GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 7428

PURSUANT to section 59 of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act, 1999, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the above proposed project. The proponent, Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, proposes to construct a Gold Refinery facility comprising of 1No. Storey administration block that shall accommodate offices, equipment store, 1No. block staff accommodation apartment with 20No. units and 2No town houses, gold processing plant, staff canteen, police post, associated facilities and amenities in Kakamega South sub-county, Kakamega County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Negative Impact Mitigation Measures Air quality degradation • Watering of fugitive dust sources. • Minimising surface and land disturbance. • Speed control of construction and material transporting vehicles. • Use of bag-house filters for air pollution control. • Use of ultra-low sulphur diesel in vehicles, machinery, generators, among others. • The suction hoods should adequately cover the furnace mouth and ensure that all fumes are trapped. • The cooled emissions to be pass through series of filters which trap the air - borne particulates before going to scrubber • The scrubber units should have alkaline solution spray to neutralize acidity if any in the fumes, strained through filters in the chimneys to remove solid particles before being released in the environment. • Monitoring the quality of the scrub solution as well as avoiding accumulation of sludge in the scrubber tanks should be practiced ensuring efficiency of installed scrubbers. • Stack emission sampling to be done frequently by NEMA licensed laboratories and proponent obtain emission licenses annually. Oil leak and spill • Motor vehicles and machinery must be keenly observed and maintained to prevent oil leaks. • Maintenance services must be carried out in a designated area (protected service bays) and where oils are completely restrained from reaching the ground. • Use oil absorbent materials to manage oil spills. 5th June, 2025 THE KENYA GAZETTE Negative Impact Mitigation Measures Soil erosion • Avoid unnecessary soil excavations and landscape after construction. • Use of permeable pavement materials to improve seepage. • Minimize land disturbance. • Interim reclamation. Solid waste • Integrated solid waste management system. • Hazardous wastes to be handled with cared on the site before disposal. • Waste disposal by a licensed entity should be at an approved dumping site. • Provision of labelled waste bins at strategic locations. Aesthetics and visual resources • Minimize land disturbance. • Conduct interim reclamation. Surface water quality • Proper erosion control measures. • Minimization of land disturbances. • Treatment of domestic wastewater before release. • Minimize potential of filtration from tailings impoundment. Vegetation loss • Minimize land disturbance. • Compensate affected trees by replanting others elsewhere. • Avoid chemical contamination of soil or directly on vegetation covers in the area. • Interim reclamation. Fire hazards • Provision of firefighting equipment and hydrant points. • Display emergency fire evacuation procedures and emergency numbers. • Provision of sufficient fire exit points and fire assembly points. Climate Change Resilience and adaptation • Proponent to actively participate in tree planting activities and improve carbon sinks in the area. • The proponent to consider using renewable energy sources like solar as part of climate change adaptation measures. • Practice Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) from gold refining plant and store it underground can prevent its release into the atmosphere. • Provide civic education to local community about climate adaptation practices through practicing sustainable agriculture like reducing fertilizer and pesticide use, shifting to organic and regenerative farming, and integrating trees into farms (agroforestry) to reduce emissions from agriculture. • Avoid construction in the areas bordering R. Yala, which is a wetland and can as carbon sink. Socioeconomics • Maximize opportunities for women. • Maximize number of employees hired from the region. Negative Impact Mitigation Measures • Maximize potential for local purchases and potential development of small to medium enterprises to support the operations. HIV/AIDS & other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) • Efficient implementation of the HIV/AIDS and STI prevention programme • Increased awareness to translate into attitudinal changes • Facilitate information sessions at worksites and allow selected workers to attend training courses • Contractor to allow selected workers to be trained and, once trained, to conduct information sessions • Trained health workers to be engaged in STI treatment • Identifying and implementing measures to ensure availability of good quality condoms to construction workers and the community • Contractor to cooperate in allowing patients to be treated • Local clinics and medical centre to cooperate in treating patients at affordable costs • Encouraging young people to abstain from sex till marriage and avoid extra marital sex in order to curb sexually transmitted disease. Sexual exploitation, harassment and abuse • All personnel to be sensitized about risks of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. • Effecting an organizational culture of zero tolerance; create and nurture an organizational culture based on accountability where there is a zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, where rights are recognized, promoted and protected and where violations are actively prevented. • Reporting mechanisms that are safe and trusted; empower and support workers and partners to feel safe to report violations and to feel safe that reports will be handled in a manner that respects due process and other human rights. • Swift and credible investigation and sanctions; ensure a fair process for swift and credible investigations and sanctions for violations by the contractor and actively promote swift and fair investigations and sanctions by the government. • Survivor-centred response; provide survivor-centred assistance and support that is timely, predictable, sustainable and adequately resourced. • Engaging partners in the fight against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment; engage and equip individuals and local administration as allies in preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment. THE KENYA GAZETTE 5th June, 2025 The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Foresty, NHIF Building, 12th Floor, Ragati Road, Upper Hill, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 30126–00200, Nairobi. (b) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839–00200, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Kakamega County. A copy of the EIA report can be downloaded at www.nema.go.ke The National Environmental 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 for this project. Comments can also be e-mailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B, MAMO, MR/6417180 Director-General,