GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 6979

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, Kenya National Highways Authority proposes to construct a class C primary road that is approximately 94km long. The main section is approximately 49km and will have a desirable width of 40m and 25m in sections traversing Aberdares Forest and starts at Ihithe, through Nyayo Tea Zone, Aberdare Nationl Park, Kahuruko and ends at Ndunyu Njeru. Other road sections include in the project are the Njengu–Treetops Gate- Ambone, the Ihithe– Kiamutiga–Mukarara, the Ark Gate Access, the Munyaka–Koinange– Heni–Mwendandu and the Njoma–Weru Road sections, all totaling approximately 44km in length. The proposed project traverses through Nyeri and Nyandarua counties The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Anticipated Impacts Mitigation Measures Clearing of vegatation • Cleared trees should be kept within the forest and should be used in order to prolong period of carbon emission. • Sites should be identified for offsetting the loss of forest cover and biomass. This will require an adoption of compensation plan. Human-wildlife conflict • Construction of the road should be conducted faster to minimize potential diversion of animal movements. • Excavation of deep long channels should be avoided. Wildlife poaching • KWS should screen contractor personnel working in the project. • Contractor should work within the construction space of the road and designated construction camp. • KWS should screen contractor’s construction plant, equipment, containers, etc. • Security in the region should enhance surveillance on vehicles. Barrier to movement of elephants and rhinos to the river and dispersal foraging grounds • Construction of road should be conducted faster during dry season to allow for natural dispersal tendency of wildlife during wet seasons. • Crossing ramps should be put in place where temporary trenches are constructed. • Avoid deep trenches as much as possible. Anticipated Impacts Mitigation Measures • Provide drinking water troughs and mud puddles away from the roads. Impact on aesthetic value • Plant grasses, lianas and climbers on cut slopes. • Level of road fillings on valleys should be synchronized with the gradient of the topography in the valleys. • Trees should be planted near the road reserve to moderate on visual intrusions. • Structures should be painted green colour. • Control the spread of solid wastes in the protected areas. • Control introductions and spread of AIPS. Solid waste pollution • Dumping used foods, food covers and water bottles. • On Construction waste, Contractor to provide solid waste storage bins and skips. • Contractor to ensure that the solid waste collected is disposed of in an approved dumpsite. Accidental oil spill • Contractor should have well maintained engines and equipment to avoid accidental oil leakages. • Construction camp should not be established within the Protected Areas (National Park and Forest Reserve). • Construction should be confined during dry seasons only to avoid rains washing oily equipment and machines. • All Earthmovers, vehicles and equipment should be removed from the water tower before the onsets of rainy seasons. • Clear spills immediately they occur. Pollution of streams, rivers and reservoirs • Avoid generating piles of soils along the road. • Cover piles of soils with waterproof materials to prevent erosion. • Excess generated loose soils should disposed safely. Draining of wetland and poor resilience to climate change • The contractor Construct barrier before the road crossing to prevent water from wetland drained when channel is excavated for bridge construction. Impact on fauna • Construction on site should begin from 8 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. to allow the birds including other wetland birds to forage Introduction of speed bumps specifically towards the mooreland valleys. • Avoid clearing of tall vegetation on valleys to allow these birds to scale flight height higher than the height of cars. • Plant the indigenous shrubs and trees near the valleys to control the flight speed of the bird and allow this bird to scale its flight higher once the trees grow taller. • Provide drinking water troughs and mud puddles away from the roads. Introduction of alien invasive plant species • Equipment to be used should be decontaminated. • Always avoid the top surface of the soil from borrow pit when excavating gravels for road reinforcements in order to avoid 26th May, 2023 THE KENYA GAZETTE Anticipated Impacts Mitigation Measures transporting AIPS propagules to new areas. • Since AIPS appears later after soil disturbance, aftermath proliferation of AIPS should be controlled by regularly reducing their population and recruitment. Pitfalls resulting from excavation of trenches • Provide a temporary crossing over the trench to enable the small mammals, reptiles and amphibians cross easily before backfilling of soil is done. • Construction personnel should provide a ramp to enable trapped animals to get out and monitor trenches for animal rescue. Potential collection of live specimens of chameleon • Personnel should be educated on cites in order to understand how to protect species from collection of live specimens. • Environmentalist expert should be incorporated in the personnel team to monitor on incidences of collection of live specimens. Climate change impact • To mitigate this the workers should be trained on management of air pollution from vehicles and machinery. • All construction machinery shall be maintained and serviced in accordance with the legal requirements and the contractor’s specifications. Occupational safety and health • Regular checks by KWTA should be undertaken to ensure the relevant labour laws and occupational health and safety plans are adhered to at all times. • All project workers should, as part of their induction, receive training on health and safety. • All workers will have contracts which clearly state the terms and conditions of their employment and their legal rights. • The proponent and the contractor will put in place a worker grievance redress mechanism accessible to all workers, whether permanent or casual, directly or indirectly employed. • All project workers should have access to training on communicable diseases and STDs and community interactions in general. Contractor should ensure that all the laborer’s are over 18 years of age. Increased transmission of HIV/AIDs and other STIs • The contractor should develop and implement pre-employment screening measures for workers, which should include applicable diseases. • The contractor should develop and implement a HIV/AIDs and other STIs policy and an information document for all workers directly related to the project. • The contractor will make condoms available to employees and communities neighbouring the site office during construction. Impacts on employment, procurement and the economy • The project should prioritize the employment of labour from the local area. • The proponent should adopt a fair and transparent employment and procurement strategy to avert any potential favoritism. • The project should prioritize the Anticipated Impacts Mitigation Measures procurement of raw materials from Nyeri and Nyandarua counties. Loss of property and livelihood sources • Further the process should identify persons who have been affected in this regard and identify which alternative intervention can be suitable to help them cope with their loss. • The local leaders including special interest groups should be involved and consulted in identification of interventions and restoration of community livelihoods. • Establish a community grievance redress mechanism to address concerns arising from the community and to avoid conflict. 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. (b) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839–00200, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Nyeri and Nyandurua 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/5151210 National Environment Management.