The Ministry of Water was formed in December 2005 after the former Ministry of Water and Livestock Development was divided into two full Ministries that is, the Ministry of Water and the Ministry of Livestock Development. In undertaking the mandated roles of the Ministry, emphasis is directed towards ensuring that water resources are managed in an integrated manner, water is adequately supplied with acceptable quality to meet requirements of different sectors thereby enabling them to contribute to the national development.

The role of the Ministry of Water focuses on its mission which is to sustain development and management of water resources by formulating water policy, disseminating, coordinating, facilitating, regulating and monitoring its implementation. This will be realized through strengthening the capacity of Local Government Authorities, Private sector and community Autonomous Bodies in provision of quality and effective water supply.

The Ministry has a National Water Policy that provides guiding directives on how different water sector stakeholders will join hands through an integrated approach in management and development of water resources on cost sharing and cost recovery principles for water supply service delivery in rural, peri-urban and urban areas respectively.

The Ministry of Water has two main Functions which are:-

• Core Functions
• Support Functions