KEWI Seeks Strengthened Treasury Department Partnership on Institutional Development Priorities

BY: Pius Kimani

The Principal Secretary in the State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management (PIAM), Mr. Cyrell Wagunda has acknowledged KEWI’s contribution to national capacity building in the water sector and emphasized the importance of strategic collaboration to ensure efficient resource utilization and institutional sustainability.

While hosting the top leadership of the Kenya Water Institute (KEWI), led by the Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Leiro Letangule, EBS who paid him a courtesy visit at his office at the Treasury Building in Nairobi, PS Wagunda commended KEWI for its dedication to excellence and reaffirmed the State Department’s commitment to supporting the Institute in fulfilling its mandate.

During the meeting, which was also attended by Hon. Patrick Musili Mbangula, Chairperson of the KEWI Governing Council, and Dr. Kimeli M. Chirchir, Deputy Director of Corporate Services, the CEO elaborated on KEWI’s ongoing transformation plan, which seeks to strengthen the institution’s infrastructure, research capability, and governance framework. Central to this plan is the completion of a 12-storey tuition block, a flagship project designed to expand teaching and learning spaces to accommodate the growing number of students enrolling in KEWI’s academic and professional programs.

Dr. Letangule appealed for the State Department’s support in mobilizing budgetary resources to complete the project, emphasizing that the new facility will not only enhance learning capacity but also provide modern laboratories, lecture halls, and innovation hubs to facilitate advanced training and research.

The engagement provided an opportunity for KEWI to present a comprehensive overview of its mandate, vision, and strategic direction as a leading national centre for training, research, and consultancy in the water sector. Dr. Letangule highlighted KEWI’s pivotal role in building the capacity of water sector professionals, supporting policy implementation, and advancing innovation aligned with national development frameworks such as Kenya Vision 2030 and the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

The meeting underscored the government’s continued support for institutions driving Kenya’s water and sanitation agenda and marked a renewed commitment to advancing technical education and research for sustainable national development.