GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 3559

PURSUANT to regulation 42 of Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has received a strategic environment assessment report for the proposed Konza Technology City The project proposes to establish Konza Technology City at Malili Ranch in Machakos and Makueni Districts located 60km South-East of Nairobi off Mombasa Road. The proposed project will be undertaken in a 5000 acres piece of land. The government commissioned a Strategic Environment and Social Assessment study main objectives to: (a) Integrate environmental concerns into all activities associated with the proposed project for sustainability. (b) Ensure that all the potential environmental impacts of proposed strategic actions are considered. (c) Assess alternatives in order to identify the best practical environmental option and; (d) Provide a means of early warning of cumulative effects and large scale impacts. The following are the anticipated impacts on natural environmental features that are likely to be affected during the implementation of the project. Environmental Impacts Mitigation Measures Soil erosion • Erection of siltation barriers. • Rapid re-vegetation of areas. • Avoiding major earthworks during rainy season. • Segregation of top soil during excavation activities for reused. • Vehicle maintenance be undertaken in designated areas with oil interceptors. Risk of oil spills and leakages • Vehicle maintenance to be undertaken in designated areas with oil interceptors. • Fuels to be stored on impermeable surfaces surrounded by a bun. • Split oil should be immediately cleaned. Air quality/ dust emissions • Plant and machinery maintenance to manufactures specifications. • Use of environmentally friendly fuels e.g. low sulphur diesel fuels. • Avoiding excavation, handling and transportation of materials during periods of high winds. THE KENYA GAZETTE 23rd March, 2012 980 980 • Water spraying to dampen dust. • Construction workers to be provided with appropriate PPE such as eye protection and dust masks. Noise and vibration • Abatement of construction noise, through restricting operating hours during construction. • Use of noise barriers and bunding. • Traffic noise reduced through use of public transport to reduce the number of vehicle movements. Water environment and drainage • Maintenance or replacement of local drainage channels on the existing onsite water courses. • Retention and detention structures to avoid increase in rates of runoff using permeable surfaces such as permeable paving for pavements, car parks etc. • Provisions for the inclusion of flood lagoons to alleviate storm flows. • Employment of sustainable water consumption practices and harnessing facilities. Solid Waste Management • Construction waste to be separated and disposed off appropriately. • Construction areas to be kept clean, with waste disposal facilities at strategic locations. • All litter and waste to be removed on completion of the construction phase. • Establishment of waste transfer, sorting and recycling centres. • Promotion and education of workers and residents in the means of reuse, reduction and recycling of waste. Wildlife disturbance • Retention of existing on site water courses which will act as wildlife corridors. • Development of 2km green belt zone which will act to stop unregulated urban sprawl. • The southern area of the site has been set aside for parks; open space etc. • Establishment of a 2km green belt zone to include wildlife conservation areas and native planting to enhance creation of new habitats. • Community to be involved in wildlife and natural resource management programmes, habitat creation and management to maintain the surrounding environment. Social-Development of slum areas • The provision of a 2 km. “Greenbelt.” control zone will mitigates the development of slums around the project. • A monitoring and evaluation framework has been prepared to guide the development of the technology city. 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) Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, NHIF Building, Community, P.O. Box 30521, Nairobi (c) Provincial Director of Environment, Eastern Province. (d) District Environmental Officer, Makueni District. The National Environment Management Authority invites members of the public to submit oral or written comments within sixty (60) days from the date of publication of this notice to the Director- General, NEMA, to assist the Authority in the decision making process of the plan. B. M. LANGWEN, for Director-General, MR/9098963 National Environment Management Authority.