Six regional development authorities are set to be dissolved by June 2026 as the Kenyan government moves to streamline service delivery and eliminate duplication of functions in line with the devolved system of governance.
The agencies facing closure include the Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority, Kerio Valley Development Authority, Lake Basin Development Authority, Ewaso Ng’iro North Development Authority, Ewaso Ng’iro South Development Authority, and the Coast Development Authority.
According to government officials, the decision is part of a broader restructuring initiative aimed at aligning state functions with the 2010 Constitution, which ushered in a devolved system of governance and transferred many development roles to county governments.
“The disbandment of these agencies is meant to eliminate overlap, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and ensure that services are better delivered at the grassroots through county governments,” a senior official familiar with the matter said.
For decades, the six authorities have spearheaded development programs in their respective regions, focusing on areas such as irrigation, resource management, infrastructure, and environmental conservation. However, their roles have increasingly come under scrutiny, with critics arguing that devolution has made them obsolete.
The move is expected to affect hundreds of employees working under the agencies, with the government said to be considering various transition mechanisms, including staff redeployment and retirement packages.
While the restructuring is seen as a bold step toward fiscal discipline and governance efficiency, some leaders from affected regions have raised concerns about the impact on ongoing development projects and livelihoods.
