GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 5281

Pursuant to Regulation 21 of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination (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, County Government of Makueni, Department of Lands, Mining, Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development, is proposing the de-gazettement and excision of the land from Ngai Ndethya Game Reserve. The land is approximately 21200 Ha. The scheme has several infrastructural facilities such as schools, markets, hospitals and earth dams. The aim of de-gazettement is to enable the issuance of title deeds to beneficiaries in fully settled component schemes. This scheme is in Kibwezi East Sub-County, Makueni County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Impacts on flora, • Ensure proper demarcation and delineation fauna of the project area to be set for human settlement and the National park. • Introduction of vegetation (trees, shrubs and grass) on open spaces and their maintenance. 14th June, 2019 Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures • Create awareness on importance of bio- diversity amongst the'local residents. • Design and implement an appropriate Reforestation/Afforestation, landscaping programme to help in re-vegetation of the project area after settlement. Human-wildlife • Changing attitudes to wildlife through conflicts education. • Ensuring that' affected communities and individuals are active participants in wildlife management. • Physically separating the two by the use of barriers. • Managing the numbers of animals to reduce the risk, of conflict. • Managing the size of the population to reduce the risk of human-wildlife conflict. Increased storm • A storm water management plan that water, runoff and minimizes impervious area infiltration by soil erosion use of recharge areas. • Use of detention and/or retention with graduated outlet •control structure will be designed. • Apply soil erosion control measures such as terracing of farm land within the project site. • Implement silt control measures such as silt fences and silt traps. • Excavations to remain open for very short time before placement of fill. Impacts on local • All roads being used at the project site infrastructure, should be well maintained, and left in as services and good state. natural resources • Involve , the community during road upgrades. • Natural resources within the ..project site should be conserved. Poor health and • Create awareness prevention on HIV/AIDS sanitation and other related diseases. • Avail health care services to the local cornmUnity. • Provide' adequate' drinking water to the local community. Project associated • COmmunity support mobilization and conflicts e.g. sensitization through consultative forums, disputes public meetings and questionnaire methods. • Draft, finalize, and implement land acquisition, compensation and resettlement plan for affected households, businesses, and other groupings. • Sufficient planning for adequate resources required i.e. financial, personnel and equipment. • Land transfer agreements shoUld be formalized before the project starts. • Restrict project within the corridor set as much as possible. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Director—General, NEMA, Popes Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839-00200, Nairobi. (b) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, NHIF Commonity, P.O. Box 30126-00100, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Makueni County. 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 assilt the 4uthority in the decision making process of the plan. GEOFFREY WAHUNGU, Director-General, MR/6335888 National Environment Management Authority,