GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 5414

PURSUANT to regulation 21 of the Environmental Management and Coordination (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 is proposing to construct the North Horr–Marsabit (B75) Road which is approximately 194km long and lies in Marsabit County of the Republic of Kenya. The road project starts from North Horr town at the junction with A4 road and terminates at the junction of A2 near Marsabit Town. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Project Activities/Impact Sources Environmental Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Road survey and design of main trunk including road alignments, access roads, deviations, material site access roads • Direct land take and displacement of home and business structures, crops and trees. • Displacement of land owners and Vulnerable persons exposing them to resettlement related impacts. • Compensation for land and structures before construction starts. • Assistance allowances to vulnerable persons exposed to resettlement related impacts. Flora and fauna site clearance, removal of top soil, sedimentation vegetation. Road diversions Water abstraction. Construction of support infrastructures • Soil erosion. • Depletion of vegetation cover. • Air pollution, dust and noise. • Loss of socially/ economically useful vegetation/land components. • Install erosion control measures on exposed areas. • Control /manage excavation activities, earthworks. • Install drainage structures properly backfill of exposed surfaces around the sites. • Planting of grass to be done within preparation and clearing phase and just before rains. • Avoid clearing vegetation using herbicides. • Afforestation programme based on indigenous trees to facilitate community dependence of trees of economic and cultural value. Change in drainage system Hydrology • Soil erosion. • Accidents. • Water pollution. • Change in natural drainage pattern. • Roads design and related activities not to encroach on environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands or traditional cultural sites. • Replant road reserve with grass or stabilizing shrubs to prevent soil erosion. • Design adequate culverts for all crossings to accommodate peak runoff from effective catchments. • Avoid construction during heavy rains. • Planting of conservation vegetation to control • erosion and consequently sedimentation • The drainage facilities will be periodically cleared so as to ensure water flow. • Run-off sedimentation. • Grit traps will be incorporated as part of the drainage system • Planting of grass on the verges to reduce soil erosion and transport of suspended matter. 3042 3042 Project Activities/Impact Sources Environmental Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Setting up of site camp, offices. • Disposal of solid waste at camp. • Waste, construction materials. • Provide proper solid waste disposal facilities at camp. • Provide proper sanitation facilities. Excavation, acquisition work, transportation and storage of raw materials (gravel sites, hardstone, stockpile area etc) • Soil erosion. • Air pollution. • Noise, aerial emission of dust. • Land degradation. • Loss of land value at raw material sites and stockpile. • Loss of vegetation. • Identified quarry sites and borrow pit sites to be exhausted, reinstated and rehabilitated before opening other sections. • Exhausted quarries to be backfilled. • Limit earth movements to dry season. • Borrow pits should be rehabilitated. • Balance cut and fills to avoid deposition. • Use appropriate methods of controlling soil erosion. • Control speed of construction vehicles and impose speed limits for all. • Prohibit idling of vehicles. • Sensitize workforce. • Maintain work equipment. Generation of solid waste. • The contractor to submit to the road engineer a camp and site office plan defining all facilities to be created. These include human waste disposal facilities and solid waste management facilities. • Ensure that all waste materials at the point of construction are transported to place of safe disposal Health impacts Diseases including HIV & AIDS • Intensify awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS and Malaria prevention by use of bill boards in market centres and along the project road. • Contractor to provide all workers with appropriate protective clothing such as helmets and dust masks while working in dusty environment. • Work to minimize or altogether eliminate mosquito breeding sites. • Locate condom dispensers in strategic locations within the camp and the camp environs such as market centres. Project Activities/Impact Sources Environmental Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures • Sensitise workers and the surrounding community on awareness, prevention and management of HIV / AIDS through staff training, awareness campaigns, multimedia, and workshops or during community Barazas. • Post sign boards (in local languages) along the alignment during and after the construction to encourage preventive/responsible behavior • Contract HIV & AIDS awareness services • In collaboration with the ministry of health Provide VCT centres. Air quality and dust pollution Air pollution generated through construction activity, construction machinery and vehicular traffic • In filling sub grade, water spraying is needed to solidify the material. After compacting, water spraying should be regular to prevent dust. • Operators should use protective personal equipment (PPE) such as dust masks. • Vehicles and construction machinery will be required to be properly maintained and to comply with relevant emission standards. • Speed controls by temporary speed pumps on diversions where necessary. Noise and vibration Noise pollution • Avoid night time construction when noise is loudest. • Operators should use protective personal equipment (PPE).such as ear mufflers. • Maintenance of construction machinery. Social conflicts • Social conflicts may arise if local people don’t get the expected jobs at construction sites as project proponent will not necessarily employ workers living within the vicinity of the project road during its construction. • Ensure local communities benefit from transitory incomes during the rehabilitation phase by ensuring that employment priority for unskilled jobs be given to local communities including women. • Public awareness about the project and available job opportunities should be posted in a timely manner to ensure both men and women are availed equal opportunities to apply for various posts. 30th July, 2020 THE KENYA GAZETTE Project Activities/Impact Sources Environmental Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Pressure on local resources • Increased population may exert pressure on local resources such as water and land, and may trigger price increases for commodities and services. • Increased population will stress the existing social services such as housing, health facilities and sanitation. • Take precaution to ensure rehabilitation work will not adversely affect the quantity and quality of water resources. • Regular monitoring of quality of water resources should be undertaken. Construction materials sites (quarries and borrow pits) Stagnant pools of water encourage the breeding of mosquitoes which transmit malaria. Soil erosion. Noise pollution due to blasting activities. • Prepare for approval borrow pit rehabilitation plan. • Upon acquisition of all borrow sites, these should be fenced with wooden posts and an access gate erected. • Rehabilitate quarry sites and other material sites to discourage pounding which are mosquito breeding grounds. Exposed sites are also sites of water-borne disease transmission for both human and animals. • Waste excavated materials should be disposed off in a manner that ensures protection of waterways. • Re-vegetation of these sites with the previously existing vegetation. Waste pollution Construction debris, oil waste, and medical waste, management of cut to spoil and stockpile materials from wetland areas. • Adhere to the NEMA Waste Management Regulations, 2006. • Waste from road construction to be disposed in designated waste receptacles only. • Waste generated to be collected, segregated at the source and disposed off in designated waste receptacles only (e.g. excavated materials from the site during site preparation). Accidents • Increased movement of vehicles may lead to increased accidents among local communities, construction workers and vehicles operators. • Educational campaigns be mounted in order to reduce the risk of increased road accidents. Authorities to enhance compliance with road safety measures for both the contractor’s workers and the communities. • The road design includes provisions for bus stops and lay-byes to protect the pavement and improve road safety. Project Activities/Impact Sources Environmental Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Crime • Increased crime associated with immigrant construction workers, and others in search of jobs and business opportunities. • Available local security to be reinforced and community information network enhanced. HIV/AIDS and the project road • Increase of people in search for jobs along the project road is likely to generate a high risk of increased spread of HIV/AIDS and STIs in the project area. • Also influx of sex workers within the shopping centers along the project road will contribute to the spread of the disease. • Presence of construction workers earning above average incomes and often coming without their families may threaten the security of women leading to breaking up of marriages, early and unwanted pregnancies among girls, and the spread of HIV/AIDS and STDs. • HIV/AIDS/STI intervention programmes to be put in place and effectively implemented and monitored. • Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) will be encouraged for the road contractors through, among others, District Aids Committee, who will raise awareness through Information, Education and Communication programmes (I.E.C). • HIV/AIDS campaigns. Health and sanitation in labour units • Overcrowding in construction and poor sanitation are common problems in construction camps. These can result in higher incidences of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, meningitis etc. • Also HIV/AIDS which needs special attention and control measures since labour camps are often very high risk outfits for sexually transmitted diseases. • Housing provided at the camps must have enough accommodation space. • Each hose must be well ventilated. • Provide adequate sanitary blocks. • Adequate sewage systems should be planned. • Some project funds should be allocated for HIV/AIDS awareness and education programme for all workers. 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, Community, 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, Marsabit 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 plan. Comments can also be emailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Ag. Director-General, MR/0783669 National Environment Management Authority. 3044 3044