GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 9171

PURSUANT to section 59 of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act, Cap. 387, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the above proposed project. The proponent, National Irrigation Authority, proposes to construct Athi Dam Project comprising a mixed-type dam (concrete and concrete faced rockfill) with a storage capacity of 306.4 million cubic metres within a 33,610 Km2 catchment, creating a 38Km2 reservoir (approximately 13km long and 6km wide) at a norm; water level of 232.0m; the dam will ha a maximum height of 34m, including a 3,308m rock-fill section with a 10m crest width and a 164m concrete section incorporating a 122m spillway, gate chamber, intake and flushing sluice, designed to regulate an average annual flow of 76.2m3/s, manage sediment loads of 2.334 million tons per year, support irrigation supply of 46m3/s and other associated facilities and amenities within Tsavo East National Park in Taita Taveta County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Anticipated Impact Mitigation Measures Loss of habitat • Prohibit unnecessary vegetation clearing. • Demarcation and restriction of construction sites. • Sparing mature trees. • Plan for vegetated buffer zones with suitable indigenous tree species around the dam and along the canal. • Establishment of continuous ecological monitoring system. • Collaboration between KWS and other stakeholders on habitat rehabilitation plans/programs. Land use change • Ensure that the workers’ camp will be temporary. • Preparation of a restoration plan on the entire dam project area. 3022 3022 Anticipated Impact Mitigation Measures • Demarcation and restriction of construction site. • Establishment and strengthening of community conservancies-as compensation of land used. • Establishment of continuous ecological monitoring system. Habitat fragmentation • Provision of adequate wildlife overpasses prioritizing wildlife corridors. • Phasing the construction works to minimize the fragmentation of habitat. • Backfilling of all open excavation areas. • Establishment of continuous ecological monitoring system. Loss of biodiversity • Establishment of continuous ecological monitoring on biodiversity. • Strengthening KWS and WRTI in Tsavo to conduct ecological monitoring. • Restoration programs of the degraded areas. • Update/review of Tsavo East National Management Plan 2021-2031 to include the dam project. Human-wildlife conflict • Fencing the construction site and workers’ camp. • Training the construction workers on personal conduct within the park. • Implementation of a joint security plan aiming at protecting the workers. • Conducting continuous risk assessment reports. • Provision of adequate PPEs. • Training workers on health and safety and environmental awareness. • Compliance to Occupational Health and Safety measures Work Injury Benefit Act. Dam/canal safety risks • Provide clear emergency preparedness strategies. • Regular maintenance and upgrade of the dam, canal and the associated infrastructure. • Provide safe access points to the water for the local residents and their livestock. • Review and update existing species conservation and management plans for focal species. • Enhance close surveillance of the dam, canal and surrounding. • Sensitize the public and tourists on dam safety issues associated with the dam and canal. • Provide clear emergency preparedness strategies. • Undertake a detailed Assessment study for the proposed dam and establish quantifiable risks. • Integrate simulated flood release programme in the dam operations. • Inform the public on any un-usual releases from the dam’s spillway for appropriate safety precautions. Anticipated Impact Mitigation Measures Water flow alteration • Provision of artificial water pools for utilization by hippos and crocodiles. • Restrict construction works to dry season when there is low water flow to ensure minimal river diversion. Increased water demand • Drilling a well near the river to provide water for the camp. • Build sedimentation tank and reservoir in the camp. Accidents on wildlife • Moving vehicle speed control to be limited to 40 KM/H. • Sensitize drivers to observe park speed limits. • Adequate hoarding of the construction site. • Adequate signage on key wildlife corridors. • Observe Park working hours 6.00 am to 6.00p.m. • Immediately reporting any wildlife accidents for clinical interventions. • Proper record keeping of any wildlife accidents or kills. • Use of quarry stone aggregate or quarry chips as buffer along the canal in place of grass to discourage wildlife from breaching the fence in search of foliage. Water pollution • Conduct regular water quality analysis. • Construction of check dams control siltation. • Inter-agency coordination between NIA, KWS, NEMA for regulation of water resource. • Laison with communities on the catchment areas upstream. Risks of fire • Provision of firefighting equipmen.t • Regular trainings of the construction workers. • Develop a fire management and response plan. • Conducting regular fire drills. • Clear marking and demarcation of the fire assembly points. • Train workers on first aid and keeping fully equipped first aid kits. • Fire detection and detection system. • Good maintenance of the access roads acting as fire breaks. Solid waste pollution • Ensure waste materials are disposed at the County and NEMA approved sites. • Use of the 3Rs – Reduce, Re-use, Re- cycle. • Solid waste to be put in designated areas for appropriate disposal (waste cubicle). • Waste segregation at source. • Engage a licensed, competent and effective waste handler. Deterioration of water quality in • Clearing and removal of all vegetation materials at the dam site. 19th June, 2026 THE KENYA GAZETTE Anticipated Impact Mitigation Measures the reservoir • Institute a broad water quality monitoring system focusing on catchment sources, incoming flows, entire dam water quality variations and water downstream of the dam location. • Maintain appropriate records on water quality as required by the law upon commissioning of the dam. Disturbance to wildlife • Provision of adequate wildlife overpasses along the migratory routes. • Establishment of continuous ecological monitoring. Wildlife displacement • Increase aerial and ground surveillance on wildlife. • Setting up a Problem Animal Control (PAC) camps along the park’s boundary. Increased demand for power supply • Construction of a KPLC sub-station. • Use of ecofriendly generators. • Use of renewable sources of energy i.e. solar panels. Poaching • Increased aerial and ground surveillance. • Inclusion of a KWS camp within the worker’s camp. • Benefit sharing programs. • Education and awareness campaigns on conservation. • Strict enforcement of existing laws. Liquid waste pollution • Provision of temporary conservancy tank and mobile lavatories within the workers’ camp. • Engage NEMA and County licensed waste handlers. • Provision of a service bay for machinery and equipment. • Ensure proper decommissioning of the conservancy tank after completion of the construction works. Soil erosion • Create and maintain soil traps and embankments. • Excavated soil to be used for back filling. • Confine vegetation removal to the surveyed dam components’ extent only. • Sprinkling water on the construction sites. • Undertake soil stabilization and conservation measures-retainer walls/gabions and riprap. Natural landscape alteration • Habitat rehabilitation using the indigenous tree species e.g. Acacia tortilis and Balanites aegyptica. • Backfilling of excavations, voids etc. • Direct seeding. • Continuous monitoring of the revegetation process. Change in river discharge • Installation river gauging stations around the dam and upstream to monitor effects of the dam to the river basin over time. • Controlled abstraction of water from the Galana River to the dam without compromising the natural continuous Anticipated Impact Mitigation Measures downstream flow. Sedimentation • Provide a soil trap downstream the dam site to intercept excessive silt during the construction. • Provide sand check dams upstream of the dam to intercept excessive silt from the catchment and effectively increase the capacity of the dam in the long term. • Incorporate silt release in the dam design. Air pollution • Provision of adequate and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. • Regular servicing and maintenance of construction equipment. • Regular air quality monitoring. • Dampening the working areas and access roads. • Switching off the machines not in use. • Covering of construction materials during transportation. Noise and vibrations • Regular servicing and maintenance of construction equipment. • Regular noise monitoring. • Restrict working hours to daytime only. Increased traffic volume and conflicts on the access roads • Consider using access roads that are less tourism traffic. • Observe the recommended park speed limits of 40KM/H. • KWS to enforce the speed limits. • Delivery of materials to be restricted to off peak game drive hours. Water loss • Creation of a buffer zone around the dam to minimize loss of water through evapotranspiration processes. • Lining the canal with concrete on the floor and both banks reduce seepage losses. Risks of accidents and injuries to workers • Education and awareness to all construction workers. • Ensure use of appropriate PPEs. • Provide First Aid Kits on site. • Put in place an emergency response plan. • Proper supervision. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839–00200, Nairobi. (b) County Director of Environment, Taita Taveta 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 project. Kindly quote Ref. No. NEMA/ENVIS/SR/00521. Comments can also be e-mailed to info@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/7777066 National Environment Management. 3024 3024