Staff from the disbanded Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA) will be re-deployed to the two departments in the Ministry of Environment, Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has said.
Duale said the affected employees will be taken to the Environment and Climate Change and the Forestry departments.
“Following the dissolution of the Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA) in December 2024 upon the expiry of its mandate, all staff will be redeployed to the Ministry and its agencies based on their competencies," he said in a post on X.
“A finalized placement list will see 68 employees join the Environment and Climate Change department, while 45 will move to the Forestry department,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary said that during the selection for deployment, various aspects including qualification and experience will be considered.
According to the CS, the rank and other factors such as age, disability and duty station were also considered in the process.
Duale insisted on professionalism and integrity in the process.
“Together with PSs Dr Eng. Festus Ng'eno (Environment & Climate Change) and Mr Gitonga Mugambi (Forestry), I urged the transitioning staff to uphold professionalism, integrity and good governance principles,” the CS said.
KWTA was established in 2012 to coordinate the protection and sustainable management of Kenya's water towers.
Its dissolution followed a decision by the Cabinet on the rationalization of state corporations to eliminate overlapping mandates.
The dissolution was announced in December 2024, following the expiry of the legal instrument establishing the agency - Gazette Notice No.31 of April 20, 2012.
Duale said KWTA functions have sometimes overlapped with 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 directed the two Principal Secretaries for Environment and Climate Change and Forestry today to accelerate the ongoing audit of KWTA's assets and liabilities, including its staff complement,” Duale said.
