About Us

The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) has experienced a number of significant institutional changes since its inception. The Ministry was originally established in 1994 in response to Agenda 21, an action plan for implementation of sustainable development, which emerged from the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

MESTI was transformed into the Ministry of Environment and Science (MES), when the Technology portfolio was transferred to Ministry of Communications, which became the Ministry of Communications and Technology. In 2006, the entire Ministry of Environment and Science (MES) was dissolved, with its Science portfolio absorbed by the Ministry of Education, which then became the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MoESS).

The Environment portfolio was absorbed by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development which was renamed the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (MoLGRDE).

In January 2009, the Ministry was reconstituted into its original form as the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and Innovation (MESTI) by EI.7 Civil Service (Ministries) Instrument 2009. The Science function was transferred back from the MoESS, while the Environment function was removed from MoLGRDE and relocated back to MEST. The Technology function was also transferred to MESTI from the then Ministry of Communications and Technology.