The Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA), established in 2012 to coordinate the protection and sustainable management of Kenya’s critical water towers, was officially disbanded in December 2024 upon the expiry of its mandate. Cabinet Secretary for Environment Aden Duale has announced the redeployment of KWTA’s 113 staff to two key departments within the Ministry of Environment.
In a statement posted on X, Duale outlined the placement plan, which will see 68 employees transferred to the Environment and Climate Change department, while 45 will join the Forestry department. The Cabinet Secretary emphasized that the redeployment process was carried out with a focus on professionalism, fairness, and merit.
“During the selection for deployment, qualifications, experience, rank, age, disability status, and duty station were all considered,” said Duale. He stressed the importance of maintaining integrity and good governance principles in the transition process.
To oversee the transition, Duale collaborated with Principal Secretaries Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno (Environment and Climate Change) and Gitonga Mugambi (Forestry). The CS urged the transitioning staff to uphold professionalism in their new roles to ensure the smooth continuation of services critical to the Ministry’s objectives.
The decision to dissolve KWTA followed a Cabinet directive aimed at rationalizing state corporations to eliminate overlapping mandates. KWTA’s functions were found to overlap with those of other institutions such as the Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Forestry Research Institute, and the National Environmental Management Authority. This redundancy was identified as part of a broader effort to enhance efficiency and reduce duplication in the government’s operations.
Duale also confirmed that the KWTA board had been disbanded, with its chairperson and directors reassigned to other government positions. Furthermore, he directed an audit of the agency’s assets and liabilities to ensure proper accountability.
The Kenya Water Towers Agency was originally established under Gazette Notice No. 31 of April 20, 2012, as part of efforts to conserve the country’s critical water sources. With its dissolution, the Ministry of Environment aims to integrate its roles into existing structures while advancing the agenda of environmental conservation and climate resilience.
Duale’s assurance of transparency and professionalism in managing the transition underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing service delivery and environmental governance in Kenya.
