GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 14246

PURSUANT to section 59 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, Shanta Gold Kenya Limited is conducting a feasibility study for their West Kenya Gold Project, which aims to assess the viability of developing an open-pit gold mine and processing centre, which will involve open-pit mining, with the key infrastructure such as a processing plant, Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), Waste Rock Dumps (WRDs), water management systems, power supply, administrative buildings, and other amenities and facilities for the Ramula-Mwibona gold resource in Siaya and Vihiga Counties. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Environmental Impacts Mitigation Measures Physical and economic displacement • Develop and implement a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) in accordance with the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) developed for SGKL as part of the Ramula- Mwibona Project which is being developed against Kenyan legislative requirements and GIIP (i.e., IFC PS 5). • Detailed social surveys must be carried out to quantify displacement of 100% of affected households and an inventory of 100% of the assets of all affected parties. • Any grave relocation which is require must be undertaken in accordance with best practice principles. • Develop and implement a Livelihood Restoration Plan (LRP) as part of the RAP, which indicates how the displacement of agricultural areas, crops, trees of economic importance, ASM sites and any other assets related to livelihood will be compensated for equal or better value. In-flux of job seekers • Develop and implement an Influx Management Plan (IMP), which considers appropriate objectives and interventions. • Develop and implement a community- wide sensitization program to address potential grievances and conflicts arising from the influx of new residents. • Conduct ongoing stakeholder Environmental Impacts Mitigation Measures engagements with local communities to foster peaceful coexistence and provide a clear grievance redress mechanism. • Strengthen security measures to address potential issues of insecurity arising from the establishment of new residences. Wage-based livelihoods • The proponent should develop the Local Employment Plan and prioritize employment and training of people living within the primary study area over outsiders especially for unskilled and semi-skilled positions. • Ensure local communities understand the project’s employment requirements in terms of skills and type of employment. • Require subcontractors used for construction activities to recruit in accordance with the proponent’s recruitment policy and plan. Local livelihood and economic growth • Develop and implement a Local Procurement Plan. • Conduct an audit of local businesses and their capacity to meet Project needs, including those businesses in the study area, and maintain a database of local business information. • Adaptation of Project procurement documents to suit local businesses as far as possible within the standards required of the Project. Occupational health and safety • Establishment and implementation of the construction Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Plan throughout the Project construction phase. • Provision of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety measures to safeguard workers from hazards. • Regular assessment and addressing any potential hazards on the construction site. • Proper fencing, lighting, and security personnel should be employed at project sites to deter criminal activity and protect both workers and equipment. Community health, safety and security • Develop and implement a Community Health, Safety, and Security Management Plan that includes measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases between workers and the local community. • Propose road by-passes where there is a significant risk to public safety from road accident. • In partnership with local authorities and the police, educate communities on road traffic laws and road safety. • Improve infrastructure such as street lighting, and supporting community-led crime prevention programs. Strain on local infrastructures • The proponent should partner with local authorities to improve and expand road networks, particularly those most affected by increased traffic. • Provide financial or logistical support to local healthcare facilities and schools to THE KENYA GAZETTE 31st October, 2024 Environmental Impacts Mitigation Measures accommodate increased demand. • Work with local utility providers to upgrade water, electricity, and waste management infrastructure to meet the rising demand. • Through Stakeholder Engagement Plan, continuous engagements should be done with local communities and authorities to monitor the impact of the project on infrastructure and services. Change of land use • Minimize the footprint of disturbance as far as practicable. Demarcate the proposed areas for land clearance and earthworks to minimize unnecessary expansion of the footprint of disturbance. • Restrict movement of vehicles and machinery to designated haul and access roads, as far as practicable. • Strip and store topsoil for future site rehabilitation activities. • Maximize land clearance and earthwork activities during the dry period when proximal watercourses are dry and risk of erosion by water is limited; and • Carry out regular inspections for visual signs of erosion and implement appropriate remedial actions. Potential contamination plume • Monitor the groundwater monitoring network. This will allow confirmation of the current model results and provide more information for numerical model updates. • Update the numerical model, with changes to the mine plan and/or if monitoring shows deviations from the current estimates. • Update the geochemical assessments as mining progresses to increase the ARD knowledge for the waste rock material and verify the iron leachate results. Cultural heritage disturbance and adjustment • Develop and implement a Chance Finds Procedure during construction activities. • Provision of mandatory basic training to all staff involved in construction activities to be able to report observed artefacts (as a compliance to CFP) on site. • Conduct Cultural heritage monitoring during construction activities. • Foster ongoing engagements and consultation with local. • Communities to understand their cultural values and practices. Traffic disruption • Traffic Management Plans should be prepared prior to construction activities. • Proper community notification is required in order to notify surrounding road users of construction vehicle activity utilizing the access location and road networks. • Relevant emergency services should be notified in advance prior to the movement of all hazardous/dangerous or oversize construction material and equipment. Environmental Impacts Mitigation Measures • Operational Traffic Management Plan managing hours of work and haulage routes to be used with specific pinch point safety analysis, staff transport and staff parking, with the provision of on- site tool storage where practicable. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, NHIF Building, 12th Floor, Ragati Road, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 30126–00100, Nairobi. (b) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839–00200, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Siaya and Vihiga Counties. 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/6539838 National Environment and Management Authority.