GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 14259

DRAFT STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED SAGANA AGRO-INDUSTRIAL CITY (SAIC) MASTER PLAN FOR THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF KIRINYAGA INVITATION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS IN light of the provisions of section 57 A of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA), 1999, Regulations 42 and 43 of Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations Legal Notice No. 101 of 2003, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has received a Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Report for Sagana Agro-Industrial City (SAIC) Master Plan in Kirinyaga County. The SEA findings are expected to integrate the existing sectoral plans and programs to establish sustainable development mechanisms. The County Government of Kirinyaga is the plan owner located in Sagana Town, Ndia Sub-county, Kirinyaga County. The Master plan is a comprehensive blueprint that describes the intended use and administration the earmarked land including the long term utilization of its environment and natural resources. It is an essential tool for monitoring and evaluating future development efforts, allowing the impact of environmental changes to be analyzed. The proposed plan encompasses range of proposed land uses such as: • Industrial uses–Export promotion zone • County Aggregation Industrial Park (CAIP) • Residential uses–Affordable Housing • Resettlement of informal dwellers • Sports complex • Other public utilities • Internal roads • Reserves for sewer trunks and high voltage power lines • Space allocations for administration block, police station The array of proposed land uses to be undertaken in the Sagana Agro-Industrial City (SAIC) Master Plan often affect the environment and surrounding environs, therefore specific mitigation measures have been recommended to address potential negative environmental impacts associated with identified activities and enhance positive impacts as is highlighted below: Key Environmental and Social Impacts and Mitigation Measures Issue Management Strategy Recommended Mitigation Enviromental Issues Waste management Removal of agents of environmental pollution and proper disposal of wastes • Adoption of an integrated solid waste management plan that includes reduction, reuse, recycling, incineration, composting and land filling. • Pursue waste minimization at source principles e.g. zero generation, reduction, re-use and/or recycling. • Segregation of domestic and industrial waste to be done and managed separately. • Provide mechanisms to segregate wastes at source to enable recycling. • Provision of transfer stations from where waste will be disposed in designated areas. • Ensure that all wastes are stored temporarily at the designated transfer stations, and that they are regularly carried away for disposal in designated areas. • Connection to existing trunk sewers in SAIC. • Pre-treatment of industrial effluent before discharge into sewers. Biodiversity and nature conservation Protection of endangered/threa tened/vulnerable species and habitats, enhancement of biodiversity on site • Protection of the riparian environment and establishment of a riparian reserve management plan. • Establishment of a wildlife management plan in collaboration with KWS. • EIAs to be undertaken for all development activities along the rivers. • Relocation of mammals to the Agricultural and Conservation Zone through the use of a wildlife management plan. • Preservation of the grey crowned crane habitat near the Brookside Milk Processing Plant. Environmental and landscape changes including ecological imbalance induced by agricultural land loss Protection of endangered/threa tened/vulnerable species and habitats, enhancement of biodiversity on site • Ensure adequate tree cover and gardens within developed areas to provide shade and cooling effect. • Ensure adequate drainage of the site through drainage works. Plenty of gardens and green areas within developed areas will enable percolation of rainfall and reduce runoff. • Ensure plenty of vegetation 4664 4664 Issue Management Strategy Recommended Mitigation cover (trees and shrubs) as buffers between land-uses to reduce noise effects. • Enforcement of pollution control measures for air pollution sources in SAIC. • Tarmacking all major roads to enhance movement in all- weather and to avoid dust generation. • The riparian reserve area of the Ragati and Sagana rivers will be restored with indigenous plants. • The proposed Sagana master plan includes sustainable land use principles. • Collaboration on biodiversity restoration with Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service. The SAIC has been re- vegetated with indigenous species. • Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Conservation of Biological Diversity and Resources, Access to Genetic Resources, and Benefit Sharing) Regulations, 2006 (L.N. No. 160 of 2006) govern the conservation of biological diversity in Kenya as well as the control of access to genetic resources in Kenya. Potential risk for river Ragati and Sagana flooding upon SAIC infrastructure Prevention of flooding • Construction of dykes. • Straightening rivers to increase discharge capacity, dredging to deepen channels. • Re-vegetation of zone area using indigenous species of 10 meters from the highest water level. • Building of artificial retention areas to store excess waters. Water resources Conservation of water resources through sustainable utilization • Rain water harvesting. • Conservative water use in low volume fixtures in buildings. • Use of recycled and harvested storm water in cleaning and irrigation. • Incorporate water accounting systems and metering for all areas. • Continually seek new avenues for water conservation as international best practices evolve. • Limited abstraction of river water and instead use of alternative sources of water such as roof catchment rain water harvesting and harvesting of flood waters. • Undertake EIA for all development activities along the Issue Management Strategy Recommended Mitigation rivers. • Pre-treatment of all effluent before discharge into rivers. • Undertake a hydrogeological study in collaboration with WRMA to determine the sustainable ground water abstraction levels. Socio-Economic Issues Energy resources Conservation of energy resources through lowering of consumption levels • Institution of awareness programes to conserve energy. • Energy conservation through installation/use of energy efficient appliances/fittings. • Adoption of green energy sources e.g. solar energy, waste to energy projects etc. • Use of green building designs that allow for passive heating and cooling, and maximum utilization of natural light in buildings. • Continually seek avenues for energy conservation as international best practices evolve. Traffic and transport Provision of adequate facilities and infrastructure. Separation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Continually monitoring traffic incidences. Establish their root cause and provide solutions. • Ensure a good connection between spine roads and the Nairobi Marua Super Highway, Provision of adequate vehicular circulation space and parking areas • Provision of pedestrian walkways along all roads within the development. • Paving all pedestrian walk ways with robust, durable, and non- slippery materials. • Provision of all necessary street furniture along all roads within the development to accommodate users (including the disabled, elderly, and children) and to enhance security. • Provision of bollards in appropriate areas to prevent vehicles from encroaching into the pedestrian domains. • Provision of street lights to provide sufficient light for both pedestrian areas and carriage ways. • Provision of trees along pedestrian walkways for shading and that require minimum maintenance; preferably indigenous for ecological and cultural advantages. Occupational Health and Safety Potential health and safety hazards Provision of adequate facilities, implementing • Implementation of comprehensive health and safety plans that encompass risk assessment, hazard 19th October, 2023 THE KENYA GAZETTE Issue Management Strategy Recommended Mitigation protection measures, adherence to worker- protection protocols, and maintaining a high level of commitment to best practices identification, safety training, the provision of necessary safety equipment and ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure compliance with established protocols and standards. The full Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment report for the Sagana Agro-Industrial City (SAIC) Master Plan 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, Kirinyaga County. A copy of EIA 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 e-mailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/5920889 National Environment Management Authority.