Gov’t shuts down KEY Agency, Aims To Revamps Staff Structure
Aden Duale, the Environment Cabinet Secretary, has directed that all workers of the now-defunct Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA) be integrated into other departments of the ministry.
Duale claimed in a statement released on Friday, December 13, that the state agency had taken over all of its activities a month ago.
This is the first time the government has publicly announced that the agency in charge of managing and coordinating the protection, rehabilitation, conservation, and long-term management of vital water towers has taken over its functions.
According to Duale, KWTA ceased to exist after its board was dissolved last month, with the chairwoman and directors reassigned to other government stations.
“The dissolution of KWTA follows the expiry of the Executive Order upon which it was created (Gazette Notice No. 31 of 20th April 2012) over a year ago, and is part of the ongoing Cabinet-sanctioned rationalisation of state corporations with overlapping and/or duplicate mandates,” stated Duale in a message on X.
Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA) has ceased to exist following last month's dissolution of its Board through the re-deployment of the Chairperson and Directors to other stations in Government.
— Hon. Aden Duale, EGH (@HonAdenDuale) December 13, 2024
The dissolution of KWTA follows the expiry of the Executive Order upon which it was… pic.twitter.com/IrWv20ePAW
This decision has put many employees in limbo. While KWTA does not specify the number of employees, based on its organizational structure, it appears to have a sizable staff.
According to its website, the agency has several important sections, including ecological research, planning, governance, and corporate services.
They have regional offices around Kenya, including Kitale, Eldoret, Narok, Kisumu, Mombasa, Kitui, Nyeri, and Marsabit.
Duale, on the other hand, has extended a lifeline to government personnel by ordering that they be redeployed inside the ministry.
“All staff of KWTA will be deployed to the Ministry and its agencies based on their established competencies,” directed Duale.
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Duale also asked the two Principal Secretaries for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry to expedite the ongoing audit of KWTA’s assets and liabilities.
Duale disclosed in his statement that the agency was disbanded because the government saw its purpose as overlapping with that of other organizations such as the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), and the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).
The Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA) is a governmental organization formed by Legal Notice No. 27 in 2012.
Kenya has five major water tower systems, including the Mau Forest Complex, Aberdare Range, Cherangani Hills, Mt Kenya, and Mt Elgon, among others.
Gov’t shuts down KEY Agency, Aims To Revamps Staff Structure
