county, district, subdivision
縣 centers on an administrative territorial unit: a county, district, or subdivision. The idea is a defined region under a larger governing structure.
縣 originally depicted a severed head hung upside down, later used for the idea of a suspended territory (a district under central control). The modern form combines a left side related to a head or inverted person with 系 (thread), suggesting hanging or connection.
The left side looks like a head with an eye 目 and a hanging line, while 系 on the right suggests a thread. Picture a map where districts are hung by threads from a central point, marking each county.
For ケン, imagine a county official named Ken who manages the district: Ken -> ケン, and he oversees the suspended territories.