Environment and Climate Change Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced the dissolution of the Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA).
This follows the expiry of the legal instrument establishing the agency - Gazette Notice No.31 of April 20, 2012 - over a year ago.
The ministry said the decision is also in tandem with the ongoing rationalisation of state corporations with overlapping mandates by the government.
In a post on X, CS Duale said KWTA functions have sometimes overlapped with those of other institutions like the Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Forestry Research Institute and the National Environmental Management Authority.
Duale announced the agency's board was disbanded and its chairperson and directors moved to other government positions.
"Consequently, I have today directed the two Principal Secretaries for Environment and Climate Change and Forestry to accelerate the ongoing audit of KWTA's assets and liabilities, including its staff complement,” Duale said.
“All staff of KWTA will be deployed to the ministry and its agencies based on their established competencies," he added.
The dissolution KWTA is part of Cabinet-sanctioned efforts to enhance efficiency and eliminate redundancy in public institutions.
Through the streamlining, Duale's ministry aims to optimise resource allocation and further strengthen management over Kenya's natural resources.
The move has been welcomed by stakeholders in the environment sector as a step towards better coordination and effective service delivery.
The redistribution of resources and personnel from KWTA is expected to reinforce capacities of existing agencies like Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).
As the audit proceeds, Duale said the ministry is putting in much effort to ensure a smooth transition while maintaining momentum on environmental conservation and climate change mitigation.
He reaffirmed that government's commitment to sustainability and resource optimisation remains a central theme in its ongoing reforms across all the ministries.
