GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 7629

PURSUANT to Regulation 21 of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the above proposed project. The proponent, County Government of Baringo, Department of Land, Housing and Urban Development (LHUD), intends to regularize the Mochongoi Settlement Scheme by degazetting a total acreage of 10,056.36Ha from 01 Arabel-forest including; Block I (107)- Mochongoi, Block II (110)- Kaimalel and Block III (111), Kimoriot for purposes of proper physical planning in Baringo South Sub- county, Baringo County. The following are the measures: anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation Possible Impacts Reduction in vegetation (forest/bush/grass Mitigation Measures • Restoration of degraded areas within and outside the farms. • Plant trees and grass in open areas and steep slopes at the farms and adjacent areas. Possible Impact Mitigation Measures • Outsource waste disposal to registered companies and service providers. Management of • Adhere to Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for hazardous hazardous materials. substances • Remedial equipment for potential spillages, use of designated containers. • Inspect and conduct safe annual audit. • Develop an emergency response plan (WHO/WHAT/WHEN/HOW). Risk of fire • Adhere to fire safety and protection guidelines. • Install Fire assembly point, fire exit routes and signage, use First Aid Kits. • Install strategic Fire extinguishers (form, water, powder) and hydrants. Spread of • All communicable diseases including COVID-19, diseases HIV- Aids should be acknowledged and control measures put in place. • Establish internal clinics or upgrade nearby clinics/dispensaries for referral and for use be hosting community • Strengthen advocacy through awareness campaigns High energy • Coordinate with KPLC to set up requisite sub consumption stations. • Adopt use of renewable energy to reduce over reliance to grid power. • Use cleaner energy technologies ( Biofuels). • Promote recycling and re-use of biofuel options available. • Use energy options that minimize emission of Greenhouse gases. • Provide stores for fuels in sealed containers a way from fire or ignitions. Disturbances • Provide notices for any disturbances during due to transfer of electricity and water utilities if any. alteration of public utilities Ensure public awareness is done prior to any activity that will amount to public disturbances on the roads, neighboring settlements. • Seek for new way leaves where necessary as per law. Visual impact • Extensive public/awareness on Plant design/Quarry Mine Planning. • Tree planting and erection of buffers where possible. • Use appealing colors for branding mast heights and moving vehicles. • Landscaping of Clinker plant and both Quarry environs. • The design of the plant itself should be appealing to the eye. • Establish pollution control measures from fugitive dust/stack emissions. • Extrusive Lighting from the facility to be within safety limits. • Adhere to maritime and aviation safe height limits for Clinker Plant. Uncontrolled • Coordinate with County Physical Planning development department for Land use re-zoning/ through a around public Gazette notice. clinker plant Continuous public engagement. 30th July, 2021 THE KENYA GAZETTE 3331 Possible Impacts Degradation and siltation Degradation of cultural and recreation sites Wildlife habitat and corridors degradation; Poaching; Wildlife migration; Human- Wildlife conflict; crop Damage; loss of livestock; human injury and loss of life Reduced rainfall and • climate change Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures • All farms to have woodlots covering 10% of the land (e.g. 1/2 acre for 5acres farm). • Empower and promote farmers to practice agro-commercial forestry in settled areas. Catchment degradation • Plant trees and grass strips on steep slopes, watersheds and reserved forest areas. • Degraded riparian areas should be rehabilitated by planting trees, shrubs and grass. • Springs should be strictly protected and no extractive activity should be allowed. • Degraded springs should be rehabilitated with indigenous local tree species with catchment values. • General catchment area should be protected and ensure natural vegetation is maintained or restored. • Encourage improvement of catchment value of agricultural land and practice conservation agriculture (CA). Loss of biodiversity • Practice Integrated Conservation Approach through on-farm (in-situ) intervention that cumulatively addresses the entire settlement scheme responsively and collectively. • Promote the sustainable utilization of biodlversity resources and products by controlling charcoal burning, overgrazing of pastures and limiting stock herds; adopting appropriate land use and agricultural practices by promoting efficient farming techniques such as Conservation Agriculture (CA) and Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA). • CFA; KFS and county government need to inform the public by providing adequate information through improved extension services and provide financial and material support to biodiversity interventions and solutions. Mitigation Measures grass along farm/land boundaries. • Use bio-physical means to control soil erosion in steep slopes and vulnerable areas including gabions; diversion structures; terracing; grass water ways among other applicable mitigations. • Protect and rehabilitee identified existing and proposed cultural sites. • Provide guides and signage to all cultural and recreation sites. • Mark the proposed boundary/cutline between the settlement scheme and forest, wildlife areas/corridors to discourage encroachment into the forest/wildlife areas and restrict movement across the boundary of human, livestock and wildlife to avoid human-wildlife, livestock-wildlife and crop-wildlife conflicts. • KWS to consider putting up an electric fence to restrict wildlife from entering the settlement scheme and causing havoc including crop damage, loss of livestock and human life. • KWS to strengthen commitment on reducing poaching. • Restore destroyed vegetation in wildlife habitat areas and corridors. • Promote community participation in conservation and management of wildlife and their habitats and corridors. Establishing tree nurseries, planting trees, cover crops and tree crops. • Reforestation of degraded areas and implementing the 10% vegetation cover policy. • Good crop and livestock husbandry including crop rotation, terracing, mulching, controlled use of agro- chemicals for weeding, pest control by using prescribed amounts of agro- chemicals and safe use. Forest fires • Promote and enhance the conservation of biodiversity through in-situl preventive and restorative (curative) interventions. • The community shall restore/rehabilitate cleared vegetation on steep slopes, water catchment, riparian zones, reserved forest and degraded areas for improved flora and fauna environment. • The people of Mochongoi Settlement Scheme shall practice good crop and livestock husbandry in order to minimize disturbance of the flora and fauna environment during crop and livestock production as well as other human activities. • The community needs to embrace voluntary tree planting in their farms as well other areas within the forest, catchment areas and riparian zones as their contribution towards environmental conservation and rehabilitation of degraded areas and improving the habitat for flora and fauna. Soil erosion, landscape • Practice good crop husbandry including: Crop Rotation; Conservation Tillage; Contour Farming; Strip Farming; Terrace Farming and planting trees and • Cultivate away from riparian zones and steep slopes. • Practice sustainable crop and livestock production by embracing Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA). • Soil and Water Conservation measures including conservation dams, gabions etc. • Safeguarding protected areas including water catchment, riparian zones, reserved forests, wetlands among others. • Eliminate illegal logging and charcoal burning in the protected areas. • Increasing development and use of renewable energy. • Adopt Community Based Forest Fire Management (CBFFM) that integrates fire and people into land-use and vegetation management systems. • The County Government, CFA and KFS to sensitize community on preventive measures to stop the start and spread of fires within the farms and forest. The measures include fire breaks on farms and forest cutline; responsible citizens/community members who do not Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures drop burning cigarettes on grass land. bush land or forested areas. Solid and liquid waste problems (environment/water pollution) • Discourage farmers from farm clearing by burning. • Agro-chemicals to he applied in quantities that are utilizable at the point of use. The County Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (CMoALF) need to train farmers on safe use of agrochemicals at farm level. • The farmers need to practice good crop and livestock husbandry to minimize land degradation that triggers soil erosion, water pollution and siltation of water pans and darns. • County government to facilitate waste handling and disposal from trading centers. • Waste receptacles need to be placed at strategic points to discourage littering. • The wastes should be segregated to encourage recycling where possible and applicable. Increased water demand • There is need to maintain the ecological and shortage problems flow for downstream users and uses. • The community and public institutions to practice rain water harvesting including roof catchtnents, water pans, dams among others to enhance collection and storage of rain water for use during the dry season. • Community need to be sensitized on reducing wasting the water. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, NHIF Building, 12th Floor, Ragati Road, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 30126-00100, Nairobi. (6) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839-00200, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Bring() County. A copy of the report can be downloaded at www.nema.go.ke The National Environment Management Authority invites members of the public to submit oral or written comments within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice to the Director-General, NEMA, to assist the Authority in the decision making process regarding this project. Comments can also be emailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/ 1774889 National Environment Management Authority.