Ministry of Regional Development Authorities, Kenya

The Ministry of Regional Development Authorities (MORDA) Permanent Secretary, Engineer Carey Orege, explains, exists to provide policy guidance, build capacities, and ensure oversight management, coordination and development support to Regional Development Authorities (RDAs).

MORDA also monitors and evaluates the implementation of programmes and projects in RDAs to ensure that targets are achieved within the time allocated and that set objectives are delivered efficiently and effectively.  

“Regular collection of data and the analysis of it from across the country, or rather from all the RDAs and preparation of quarterly reports form an essential part of the monitoring and evaluation process to enable the Ministry to measure performance and institute corrective measures in a timely way,” Eng. Orege says.

Kenya has six RDAs: the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA), Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA), Ewaso Ng’iro North Development Authority (ENNDA), Ewaso Ng’iro South Development Authority (ENSDA), Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA) and Coast Development Authority (CDA).

RDAs have the mandate of promoting integrated development within their areas of jurisdiction through the implementation of integrated programmes and projects such as the provision of hydro-power, flood control, water supply for irrigation, domestic and industrial use as well as environmental conservation.

MORDA and RDAs, therefore, have the critical roles of helping Kenya alleviate poverty, balance regional development and reduce regional disparities in development through wealth creation, equitable distribution of resources, creation of employment and urban planning.

The activities of MORDA and RDAs also aim to empower the local people to take advantage of their natural resources, available water, new and improved methods of farming and animal husbandry to increase the acreage under crops and animals under their care and increase their revenues.

For a ministry and authorities whose activities revolve around basins, water, its availability and use, exploitation of land and use of local natural resources to improve lives and livelihoods, conservation of the environment is an integral part of their operations.

That is why MORDA and RDAs have close links with other Government ministries and agencies that deal with agriculture, water, the environment, wildlife, forestry and natural resources.

As Eng. Orege puts it, MORDA’s objectives dovetail with those of the ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism, Local Authorities and many others and must, of necessity, work closely with them to contribute to the national good and goals of poverty alleviation and realisation of the Millennium Development Goals.

In pursuit of its mandate MORDA focuses on the following specific programmes and/ or projects that contribute to Vision 2030, the Government’s blueprint for transforming Kenya into a Middle Income Country (MIC):

• Facilitate the implementation of the strategic programmes of the RDAs
• Upscale Rural Development Services that includes implementation of rural development projects and feasibility studies for integrated basin-based programmes at the Ministry level
• Facilitate optimal RDAs recurrent budgets
• Optimise its staffing capacity
• Upscale operational activities covered under its use of goods and services.

This is aptly captured in the MORDA mission statement which is “to facilitate and co-ordinate the RDAs in the execution of participatory, integrated basin-based development programmes through policy guidance and capacity building for sustainable utilisation of natural resources”.

MORDA’s objectives are, therefore, to:

• Promote and implement integrated regional programmes and projects through utilisation of basin resources and resource mobilisation such as from the Exchequer, Development Partners and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), among others
• Establish mechanisms for integrated planning at regional and local levels
• Formulate and implement policy guidelines for economic utilisation of resources in consultation with relevant agencies
• Develop resource utilisation charters for conflict resolution, arising from regional jurisdictions
• Establish all-inclusive mechanisms for mobilising local communities to participate effectively in regional, and benefit from, resource utilisation within the regions
• Develop and implement a framework for monitoring and evaluating regional development activities
• Build and strengthen the capacities of regional development institutions at all levels
• Strengthen infrastructure and service linkages between existing and new market centres and towns.

Eng. Charles Mwanda Director, Regional Development Authorities 

Resource mobilisation and integrated basin-based development for efficient use of local resources towards the realisation of the objectives of Vision 2030 form a key plank in the strategic planning and execution of programmes by both MORDA and the RDAs.

This is encapsulated in Eng. Orege’s acknowledgment to the Ministry’s 2008 to 2012 Strategic Plan in which he states: “The strategies and objectives set out in this Plan aim to strengthen the core mandate of the Ministry, as well as invest in strategic initiatives that will lead to pre-eminence in six critical areas”.

He identifies these strategies as:

• Strengthening integrated regional programmes • Institutional strengthening and operational efficiency
• Effective resource mobilisation up-scaling of RDAs on-going programmes for sustained growth
• Promoting effective corporate governance with RDAs
• Strengthening collaboration, partnerships and networks
• Promoting the corporate image of RDAs and MORDA.

And looking back on the goals MORDA set itself for the 2008- 2010 period, the Ministry reports that it measures its achievements and those of the RDAs through access to water resources, sustainable utilisation and management of natural resources, agricultural and livestock production, fisheries and aquaculture production.

Towards this end Minister Fred Gumo, while pointing out that there is a lot more to be achieved, reports that MORDA’s success includes, but is not limited to:

Increased access to water:

Completed in 2004, a study that resulted in the implementation of the Kimira-Oluch irrigation and water supply project that targets 3,000 households in Homa Bay and Rachuonyo

Rehabilitation of 40 wells in Gem Constituency in Siaya County

Construction of one weir across the River Yala in Siaya County which was taken over by Dominion Farms Ltd. The water is used for irrigation, domestic purposes and livestock. This project is to be up-scaled for generation of hydro-power

Construction, completion and commissioning of 77 water supply facilities for use under Ewaso Ng’iro North Natural Resource Project;

Check dams constructed under TARDA as well as the installation and commissioning of 10 water pumps by the Authority

A 1.5 kilometre-long water supply pipeline laid at Kimao Dam in Baringo County.

Sustainable use and management of natural resources:  

Two regional master plans developed for Ewaso Ng’iro North Development Authority (ENNDA) and Ewaso Ng’iro South Development Authority (ENSDA) and process of data collection is ongoing in the four other authorities. The Master plans have proved to be a usueful resource material for government departments, NGOS, Development partners operating in the two regions. Countries in these regions will no doubt find them useful.

3,715,000 tree seedlings were produced across all the authorities for conservation and commercial forestry 26 acres of commercial woodlots were established 51 tree nurseries established by TARDA 50 hectare forest cover established in Ewaso Ng’iro North 4.4 million trees planted by TARDA   Improved Agricultural and Livestock production:   339 high yielding breeding animals given to farmers 1,030 acres of land rehabilitated and support for crop production under irrigation in Malindi (150 acres), Marakwet (200 acres) and Central Pokot (680 acres) 225 acres of rangeland was re-seeded with indigenous perennial grasses 600 acres under integrated Tea Development in Trans-Mara were planted and target some 500 households.

The Department of Regional Development (DRD) was established in 2007 to address capacity challenges in projects conception & formulation, provision of oversight to projects & programmes, Monitoring & Evaluation and general supervision of Regional Development Authorities (RDAs).

• The Department is the Ministry’s technical arm and has the following specific functions:
• Formulation, coordination and implementation of River Basin - Based Integrated Regional Development Policies and Strategies for sustainable utilisation of natural resources.
• Provide policy guidance, capacity building, oversight, management & development support to RDAs.
• Coordinates issues related to regional/ international protocols, agreements and conventions in liaison with other ministries/stakeholders.
• Coordinates Integrated Regional Development projects and programmes.
• Enhances linkages with development partners, public/private sector institutions and other stakeholders.
• Interprets and enforces adherence to the Regional Development Authorities Acts and related statutes in line with the Ministry’s goals and objectives.
• Facilitates resource mobilisation in Regional Development Authorities (RDAs)
• Develop and implement a framework for monitoring & evaluating regional development projects and programmes.

The Department will be strengthened to:  

• Effectively facilitate RDAs’ to initiate and manage integrated projects
• Spearhead restructuring of RDAs for efficient and effective service delivery
• Review the current Regional Development Policy to enhance coordination
• Review the various RDAs’ Acts of Parliament to improve governance and harmonise these with the new constitution.
• RDAs are already implementing projects under the following programmes:
• Regional Development Planning
• Development of river banks, water bodies and catchment areas
• Community Support and Empowerment
• Integrated River Basin Based Development

Regional development is critical to socioeconomic progress by ensuring balanced and equitable development of all regions through planning and implementation of multi-purpose and integrated programmes and projects.

The jurisdiction of the RDAs cover the following respective areas:-

TARDA: Covers about 138,000 Km2 of the area drained by the Tana and Athi Rivers catchments.

KVDA: Covers about 96,285 Km2 the area drained and bounded by watersheds of Kerio, Turkwell, Arror, Perkera, Embobut, Weseges, Wei-Wei, Muruny rivers and their tributaries.

LBDA: Covers about 39,000 Km2 of areas in the Lake Victoria catchments in Western, Rift Valley and Nyanza Province of Kenya.

ENNDA: Covers about 209,576 Km2 of the area drained and bounded by Ewaso Ng’iro North River Basin.

ENSDA: Covers about 47,000 Km2 of the area drained and bounded by Ewaso Ng’iro South River Basin.

CDA: Covers about 83,681 Km2 and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles, the immediate coastal hinterland.

The department is currently implementing the following projects:

• Kimira and Oluch Small Farm Irrigation Project funded by AFDB & GoK
• Ewaso Ng’iro North Natural Resources Conservation Project funded by AFDB & GoK
• Tana Delta Irrigation Project rehabilitation funded by GoK
• Commercialisation of LBDA Rice Complex funded by GoK
• Gum & Resins factory being built in Wajir by ENNDA, funded by GoK
• Commercialisation of Camel Milk in Northern Kenya by ENNDA, funded by GoK
• Drought mitigation measure for Northern Kenya through purchase of cattle by ENNDA funded by GoK
• Construction of a Tea factory in Narok by ENSDA, funded by GoK
• Dairy Milk Processing factory at the Coast by CDA, funded by GoK.
• Mango Processing factory at the Coast by CDA funded by GoK

The Department is undertaking feasibility studies, detailed designs & preparation of tender documents to ensure the projects are well designed and sustainable.

The above flagship projects will cost over Sh 250 billion. This money will come from GoK and Public/Private Partnership. These projects will result in the following benefits:-

• Creation of over 1 million jobs (213,000 direct and 956,000 indirect)
• Food security enhanced through 283,000 ha of land under irrigation
• Improved water storage and supplies by 15,746 billion cubic metres for domestic, livestock, fisheries and industrial use.
• Stepped up flood control measures to avert human loss and property destruction by over Sh 10 million annually.

Increased multi-purpose water storage reservoirs by 8.1 billion cubic metres for hydropower generation, feeding 630 MW into the national grid.