Parliament is considering a Bill to abolish six regional development authorities and transfer their assets, projects, liabilities, and staff to a State Department under the National Treasury.
The proposed law, the Regional Development Authorities Laws (Repeal) Bill, 2026, was sponsored by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and seeks to dissolve agencies that have operated for decades across the country.
The authorities targeted for abolition are the Coast Development Authority (CDA), Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA), Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA), Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA), Ewaso Ng’iro North River Basin Development Authority and Ewaso Ng’iro South River Basin Development Authority.
The Bill was published on June 5 and read for the first time in the National Assembly on July 1.
Treasury to Inherit Assets
Under the proposed legislation, all assets, liabilities, rights and obligations of the six authorities will be transferred to a State Department designated by the Cabinet Secretary responsible for the National Treasury.
The transfer will cover land, buildings, contracts, investments, records, court cases and other property held by the agencies.
Any legal proceedings involving the authorities will continue after the transfer, with the successor State Department assuming responsibility.
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The Bill further provides that references to the authorities in contracts, agreements and other legal instruments will be interpreted as references to the successor institution once the law takes effect.
The six agencies were established to spearhead development programs across the country.
Their work has included irrigation projects, environmental conservation, water resource development, infrastructure projects, and promotion of economic activities.
The proposed repeal forms part of a wider government plan to restructure state corporations and eliminate overlapping functions within government.
Staff Protected
The Bill provides that all employees working for the six authorities will be transferred to the Public Service Commission.
Their terms of service will remain no less favorable than those they currently enjoy, while their years of service will continue to count for pension, gratuity and other retirement benefits.
According to the Memorandum of Objects and Reasons accompanying the Bill, the government believes the authorities have substantially achieved the objectives for which they were established.
The government says the proposed repeal will align functions with the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, reduce duplication between national and county governments, ease pressure on public finances and improve efficiency, accountability and service delivery.
If Parliament approves it and it is signed into law, the six authorities will cease to exist, and all their assets and obligations will automatically vest in the designated State Department under the National Treasury.
The Bill has been classified as legislation concerning county governments, meaning both the National Assembly and the Senate must consider it before it can become law.
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Parliament is expected to subject the proposal to committee scrutiny, public participation and debate before making a final decision on the future of the six regional development authorities.
Public Hearings Set for October 9
The National Assembly has scheduled public hearings on the proposed dissolution of the six regional development authorities for Friday, October 9, 2026.
Public hearings will take place in Elgeyo-Marakwet, Narok and Isiolo, with residents, employees, stakeholders and other members of the public invited to make oral presentations or submit written memoranda.
The hearings are being organized by the Departmental Committee on Regional Development, which is considering the Bill before reporting its findings to the House.
Accoring to the committee, the process is part of Parliament’s constitutional obligation to facilitate public participation before passing legislation, under Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution.
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