Environmental sustainability
Reporting in Kenya
By Dr Ayub Macharia
Director EEIPP
National Environment Management Authority
Kenya
Genesis
• Article 42 of the constitution –
Environment is a basic right
• 9th cycle of PC (2012) – embraced ES as a
target just like HIV, Corruption eradication,
disability mainstreaming, gender
• PC reporting apply to all 482 MDAs
including universities
• Non MDAs report through Annual
Environmental Audits, EIA
What NEMA did
• Explore action points for different policy
documents e.g.
– National Climate Change Response Strategy
– State of Environment Reports
– National Environment Action Plan
• Developed general framework with 8 focal
areas of sustainability targets
• MDAs at liberty to determine targets from
the 8 areas
The 8 focal areas
• Domesticating the Environmental Policy at the
workplace
• Developing and implementing environmental
awareness creation programmes
• Waste management that includes:
– Reducing, reusing and recycling of waste in the
respective institutions
– Developing and implementing mechanisms for
proper disposal of e-waste, e.g. computers,
microwaves, air conditioners, phones, among
other electronic devices.
The 8 focal areas cont’d
• Measures to mitigate against water, air, noise
and other forms of pollution
• Developing and implementing climate change
adaptation and mitigation initiatives such as
energy saving, water harvesting, etc
• Planting trees
• Protection of riverbanks by enforcing riparian
regulations
• Promoting environmental protection and
conservation through partnerships with
stakeholders
PC targeting by MDAs
• Use general framework by NEMA
• Set targets relevant to them
• Negotiate with Ministry of Devolution and
Planning – MOEST for Universities
• Demonstrate tangible outputs and
outcomes
• One Mandatory target - Domesticating the
Environmental Policy at the workplace
Technical support by NEMA
• Standing committee with clear TORs
– Advisory
– Regular reviews of targets
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Sensitization
Training
Technical backstopping
Templates – Environmental Sustainability
Policy document; reporting template,
monitoring plan, quick wins
PC reporting
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Receive reports – quarterly
Analysis
Report to PC secretariat
Award marks – accumulated with other
themes
• Marks – weight of 2
• NEMA DG acknowledge receipt,
communicate corrective actions – DG signs
over 100 letters
Verification
• Visit sampled institutions
• Ground truthing e.g.
– Tree planting vs tree growing
– Waste management innovations
– Energy alternatives
– Water related interventions
Role of management of NEMA
• Standing committee with clear TORs
• Committee reports sent to NEMA
management for discussion
• DG sends report for each MDA to National
PC secretariat
• Recommendations for next PC cycle agreed
and communicated to PC secretariat
• Targets are progressive each year
Role of management at MDA
• Take charge of Institutional Environmental
Sustainability Policy
• SOPs –
• For each focal area
• Financing
• Procurement
• Ensure sustainability reporting to NEMA
Challenges
• The big picture and roadmap
• Weight of PC target – 2/100 – some
institutions choose to ignore it
• Few institutions reporting 117/482 = 24%
• County governments position on PC reporting
not clear
• Few Ministries reporting – only 3 currently.
Can MEWMR report to the baby (NEMA)?
• To some MDAs, Environment not regarded as
core business
Some experience from Kenyan
universities
Sustainability expectations
– NEMA 8 framework areas
– Green Universities toolkit
Reality – 2nd quarter NEMA M&E Report
Question: Do you think the Kenyan Universities
have gotten it right?
Conclusion
• Government committed to Environmental
Sustainability and achieving Article 42 of
constitution
• Mechanism in place
• More MDAs getting involved
• Compliance to environmental laws evident
in those MDAs keen on sustainability
reporting
• NEMA keen to address challenges
identified
Thank you