# What Local Self-Government Is and How It Differs from Local Administration

> Local administration is a top-down hierarchy: akims appointed from the centre. Local self-government is a bottom-up initiative: residents themselves decide what to repair and build. Since 2021, village akims are elected by residents. The 2026 Constitution enshrines self-government at the constitutional level.

Canonical URL: https://constitution.my/p/local-self-government?lang=en
Language: en
Updated: 2026-07-26

Section: Local Government

## Two terms – two approaches

**Local administration:**
- Top-down hierarchy – akims are appointed or confirmed by the centre
- Implements policy from Astana at the local level
- Funded from the national budget
- Accountable to higher-level akims and the President

**Local self-government:**
- Bottom-up initiative – residents decide local issues themselves
- Forms include: residents' assemblies, public councils, elected akims
- Funded from the local budget
- Accountable to residents

**A practical example:** the road in your village is repaired not because Astana included it in a plan, but because residents and their elected akim decided it was a priority – that is self-government.

## Current framework

Since 2021, akims of **villages and settlements** are elected by residents. This is the first step toward genuine self-government. At the district and city level, appointment remains the current practice.

## What the 2026 Constitution changes

- **Constitutional recognition** of self-government – not merely a statutory rule but a provision of the fundamental law
- Extending **elected accountability** for akims to higher levels
- Strengthening the **role of maslikhats**
- Greater **financial autonomy** for local budgets

Self-government is not separatism. It is the resolution of local issues by residents within a unified state – as practiced in democratic countries from Sweden to South Korea.

## Key Facts

- Local administration = top-down hierarchy (appointed akims)
- Local self-government = bottom-up initiative (elections, residents' assemblies, local budget)
- Since 2021 – village akims are elected; the 2026 Constitution extends elected accountability higher
- The 2026 Constitution enshrines self-government at the constitutional level

## Checked sources

- [Official publication of the 2026 Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan](https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2600000000) – Adilet Legal Information System (checked 2026-07-16)

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Source: https://constitution.my/p/local-self-government?lang=en
© 2026 Constitution.my – informational resource, not an official legal source