Thursday 27 December 2012

[wanabidii] Focusing on Kenya’s Current Political Landscape and Way Forward and Taking Necessary Action



Focusing on Kenya's Current Political Landscape and Way Forward and Taking Necessary Action

 

Today, the political landscape in Kenya contrasts heavily with those of Public Mandate and the Reform Agenda Accord of 2010 and as a result it affected the social and economic situation impacting unjustified and unfair job creation to the advantage of a few politically-correct network and Agents of the Special Business Interest and thereby throwing majority to hopelessness into extreme poverty, with escalating extra-judicial killings, joblessness, destroying fundamentals of the environment, survival and livelihood in general welfare of people of Kenya.

 

Kenya: Conflict of Interest

Nairobi — Potential conflict of interest jeopardized completion of the core value of the constitution in Devolution Bill, Finance Bill, Police Reform Bill and Land Bill debate. The TRJC todate is incomplete, the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on the Anglo Leasing scandal that has not been debated but left on the shelve as it touches on collaborators of Special Business Interest.

 

It was confirmed by a section of MPs who expressed concern that the report may not be prioritized for debate in Parliament given the leadership and composition of the House Business Committee (HBC)…….Truely by the MPs observation, it has been skipped and has been shelved.

 

The Constitution curbs the president's powers, beefs up civil liberties, reforms land ownership laws and gives regions more control over their affairs …….. It is for the purpose to reduce ethnic tensions, civil wars and shield east Africa's biggest economy from a repeat of violence that followed Kenya's presidential election in late 2007. The violence, which broke out early in 2008, killed around 1,300 people and forced some 300,000 to flee their homes.

 

In recent times, there are constant display of politically organized violence. Political coalitions on both sides hired thugs to do their bidding and local terrorism stealing from the locals, and ordinary Kenyans are caught in the cross fire quagmires, and these are unacceptable.

 

While Kenya and Africa continues to record dismal performance, the politically correct and corrupt have huge sums of money banked overseas in foreign accounts.

 

As people prepare to go for election in Kenya, there are crucial matters of concern how we intent to resolve problems of corruption, impunity and graft that has eaten fabric of survival, livelihood and environment; where we expect to gather Reform Agenda for Progressive Development Agenda and improve public mandate delivery; why clearance for justification for Responsibility and Integrity cannot be instituted according to Reform Accord agenda; why it is crucial that the corrupt with cases pending at the ICC Hague are given a Clean Bill of Records to contest in the coming Parliamentary Elections giving those suspects who made our lives miserable with extra-judicial killings to continue to frustrate and wield power to intimidate and manipulate elections to favor their interests…..and why they must be given a free ride ticket and opportunities on a silver plate to continue to engage in destroying our livelihood and survival making our lives miserable; people who have never had good plan and failed to deliver Public Mandate but concentrated in systematically destroying our livelihood, survival and environment. It beats logics why the Judicial is not able to intervene putting logistics as guiding principles for The Way Forward. It is the Chief Justice Willy Mutunga who has the Magic Resolve for Reform Agenda Way Forward and who is able to put a stop to the political madness, show direction and save Kenya from quagmire of corruption, poverty, graft and impunity…….As a people, do we have hope for the future???

 

For Peace, Love and Unity There is Hope:

 

Fortunately enough, this will be a show-case for Chief Justice to exercise and leave legacy for his successful story for Civil Rights Activism Struggle and how his long struggle prepared his qualifications, knowledge and skills to provide a challenging unique diversity edge capable to improve and resolve this current muddled political madness raising its ugly head to destroy Kenya……which consequently if not curbed at this right moment will put Kenya's Progressive Success story fail to clinch recognition at the Emerging Global Market Opportunity where Kenya stand a better position to be included in the G20 membership. Yes, Kenya and Africa cannot afford to be over-shadowed from participating in the world's markets place when the World Scramble for Africa's Wealth and Resources for progressive Technological industrial market competition.

 

Any candidate worthy of leadership consideration must incorporate Progressive development idiologies that is able to provide way forward in a balance amongst the people he wish to lead. He must engage theories of Demand Vs. Supply philosophy……..Regulated by Legislative Policy to provide a balance in a fair and balanced agenda where all have access to opportunity to use and utilize skills, talents innovation technology in a diversity away from control and monopoly by a few……… focusing on business interest of a few special business interest. This is completely not fair and is doomed to fail the whole economy of the Nation.

 

Wake up people. The Politically correct prefer the unregulated unchecked graft, corruption with impunity of big business, where they intimidate and manipulate the legal system where they have the control to continue with exploitation of peasant farmers (stealing their cows, systemanically eliminating and assassinating the community so to illegally and illicitly take their lands and trade with farm produce without Law or Order and unregulatedly in free trading, supply for consolidated World Food Organization and supply cow to local Meat Commission why Athi River must be investigated where it gets its cows for slaughter) that results in throwing the community to extreme poverty and rewarding the unscrupulous investors with Free Trading Enterprising where they already failed to contribute in the Societies development agenda and instead brought catastrophic poverty, extra-judicial killings, pain and sufferings consequently failing political stability, social destruction with economic collapse of Kenya and Africa in general.

 

The lack for progressive success comes from the intimidated Democratic practices coupled with the manipulated election system that favors those Network collaborators of Unscrupulous Special Business Interest who acquire public wealth and resources for free without paying a corresponding Regulated Tax Revenues which in the prolonged past case-scenario poisoned every aspect of Kenya and Africa's political, social and economic progressive livelihood and survival.

 

The progressive movement is the peoples Agenda that demanded for Reform Accord after the fall-out of election gone bad in 2007/8. From here people took stock of their loses and agreed to bring corruption with impunity to a stop by engaging the ICC Hague after the political class were not able to agree to a consensus. We saw Public corporations, public wealth and resources transferred to politically correct network of unscrupulous investors, private and individual personalities where they collaborated to steal and rob public utilities, facilities, corporations including Land, natural minerals, Water towers, public wealth and resources; bearing huge catastrophic effects, extreme poverty and destructions to people's livelihood and survival, forceful relocation and transfers as well as the environmental destructions that affected many people's health with loss of responsible dignified employment opportunities. This behavior is viewed as Crime, Abuse and Violation of Human Rights ….. that eventually pushed many to forced migration and refugees spreading unfavorable tide of socialist aggression. The destruction and the environmental pollution are the result of constant earthquakes in most interfered regions that claimed hundreds of lives……The whole world must stand together to resolve and remedy.

 

These are unacceptable behaviors that must be put to a stop. The characteristics that gives the corrupt opportunity to continue to suffer people's dignity, livelihood and survival, commit crime, abuse and violate human rights is not the right way to resolve problems, it is condemned by the International Treaty that was ratified by majority member of United Nations and we stand firm to condemn this behavior in totality.

 

The Actual of Election Intimidation and Manipulation does not provide for Free and Fair Electioneering.

 

The Network and Collaboration of Unscrupulous Special Business Interest Corporate and Special Interest money put on campaign cannot provide fairness at election without Justification of threshold of Checks and Balances in Transparency and Accountability to determine Responsibility and Integrity.

 

Threshold must determine if the prospective candidates are truly free to serve their citizens justly balanced and are capable to deliver public mandate fairly?

 

Are the public convinced and satisfied that they will make decisions that have the best interest of the general well-being and prosperity of the citizens that they are supposed to serve?

 

Are the people to be elected committed to public mandate and are without under pressure by the unscrupulous International Corporate Special Business Interest whose record shows contributed to the Global Economic crisis and collapse from which such collaborators of Ponzi Schemes, Pyramid Schemes and Hedge Funding financial Traffickers, the sponsors and financiers of Pirate operators, drug traffickers, including some sort of NGO organization of unscrupulous corporations and Foundations, or other corrupt groups of impunity from Religious special business interest network?

 

Remember, these "Bought and Sold" politicians enact Special Laws that protect their interest and not those of Public Mandate and so, they do not have the best interest of the general well-being and prosperity of the citizens who voted for them who they are supposed to serve. After they take position in public Office, they will pursue interests of those who sponsor them and paid for their political finances, bail-out and expenses.

 

We the People must voice for a petition to the Chief Justice Judicial System to act fairly. This petition will be a first step that will put the government and those whose duty it is to serve as public servants, be committed to public service delivery and be in alignment with "The Constitution" as per Reform Agenda.

 

The Constitution making was incomplete and unfair to majority citizens who have public interest at heart and can be trusted to deliver public mandate but were under-cut by special interest politicians who formulated the constitution to suit their special interest. This too on the other hand is not fair and is against peoples human rights. It must be understood that those reliable politicians whose conscious do not allow them to bribe their way deserve to be fairly represented and majority have been pushed into extreme poverty, driven out of their dignified livelihood and survival and pushed out through intimidation by the politically correct gangs of the International Corporate Lobbyists whom the corrupt pay huge sums of money from public kitty. This too is violation of Human Rights.

 

Importance of Fair Competiton in Business

With a well defined Government of the People, Public Service Delivery system will provide a Government's Function-ability to provide a level playing field for competition—competition will eliminate monopoly (which in many cases are protected under network collaboration of the special business interest) and open ways for delivering quality competitive services to the people. This is one avenue that drives to create sustainable job opportunities from new creative ideas and through technological innovation and industrial aspects that compete with each other to delivering quality commodity products to consumers as people face Globalization to Emerging Market.

 

Globalisation of Emerging Markets is a complex and dynamic process analysed from various political, social and economic angle towards a sustained business perspectives. The scope include and affect the economic, political and socio-cultural dimensions in many ways and if not logistically and constitutionally protected and constituted can cause serious Global Economic Collapse. This "globalization is a process integrating the Local Community survival and livelihood including security to environmental to steady Global economy, incorporating people's culture and tradition, business technology including facilitation of World governants" But basic elements underlying process of commerce delivery and exchange is common to all players and it is important that it must be harmonized and regulated so to accommodate diversity for economic dimension interest fairly and favorably. Concept of globalisation ordinarily provide a shift in form and extent of human organisation and it is here that Government Leadership engage formation of Allies to provide a favorable platform for International negotiation within the Global Emerging Markets. This provides for partnership relationship for common interest interaction to transnational or inter-regional level negotiations, networking and sharing in matters involving lending facilities, communications, shared new idea for technological innovation and knowledge, information technologies, and cultural norms that offer bridging partnership relations that are able to intensify good practices for fair shared international linkages for common interest and interactions in world trade, Finances, Investments and economic policy collaborations for which the Millennium Development Agenda Goals was formed and it is where the World Bank with IMF including the United Nations Financial Institution was intended.

 

Without good Democracy at work, Globalization process is doomed. It is clear this is where the unscrupulous International Corporate of Special Business Interest Sramble to own and control Public Wealth and Resources of Africa and it is the reason there are too much interferences with extra-judicial killings in Africa, extreme poverty, pain and sufferings in Africa. It is because Africa's wealth and Resources is the back bone of the World's Progressive Development success story. Globalization and Africa's Development Agenda will surely fail if we do not engage Reform Change now by putting the right people on leadership. It is noteworthy that WTO (World Trade Organization) failed to produce Africa's favorable data, to further trade effectiveness liberalization of Africa's economies because of the same corruption with impunity bad leadership recycle the same corrupt network of Special business Interest that have oppressed our livelihood from dignified survival over the years. It is why Africa's representation in the G20 is crucial so Africa's interest is represented and also that they participate inclusively in deliberations of the G20 as the world focus in securing Gold, Diamond, water, food and land, so to gradually transform and feasibly improve the global economy sustainability fairly and favorably for common good of all. Reliable Opportunity comes only once. We cannot afford to let this opportunity slide out of our hands without planting good seeds. At the end, we shall have left this world better than we found it.

 

Now that the unscrupulous International Corporate Special Business Interest for Free Trade Agenda have pushed the world to Economic crisis and collapse and has failed the world; it is time we should consider re-evaluating and we must begin to do things differently in a fair shared and balanced manner. The current job creation of thievery cannot work, is not sustainable or feasible. To settle our differences in a civilized organized way and in meeting challenges of life for dignity, we all have to face the world boldly and act decisively comparing notes through history and commit ideas that works.

 

I have been inspired to sharing ideas freely for discussions so we can together unite to improve our destiny. We as the world people of good intention must concentrate to revolutionize feasible and sustainable job creation fair to all that are descent and provide dignity to human survival and livelihood in an acceptable honorable manner that are free from extra-judicial killings, that do not push people to extreme poverty but are balanced to provide opportunity for progressive development agenda.

 

People, it is now that we must achieve good cause for Reform or never.

 


Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
 
 
 
 

CIC opposes Kibaki, PM hefty send-off perks

 
VP Kalonzo Musyoka (left) leads President Mwai Kibaki (second left), Prime Minister Raila Odinga and House Speaker Kenneth Marende (right) as they head to the conference hall soon after they arrived at the Mombasa Continental Resort on June 8, 2012. Photo/GIDEON MAUNDU

VP Kalonzo Musyoka (left) leads President Mwai Kibaki (second left), Prime Minister Raila Odinga and House Speaker Kenneth Marende (right) as they head to the conference hall soon after they arrived at the Mombasa Continental Resort on June 8, 2012. Photo/GIDEON MAUNDU

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU ashiundu@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Wednesday, December 26 2012 at 16:06

The two Bills are the Presidential Retirement Benefits (amendment) Bill 2012 and the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Bill, 2012.

The Bills were published late last week, and are awaiting debate in the House.

While the former seeks to amend the retirement benefits for President Kibaki, the latter goes on to provide for the retirement package of the Deputy President, the Chief Justice and his deputy, the Attorney General, the Chief of Defence Forces, and the Speakers of the Senate and National Assembly plus their deputies.

The CIC boss said that so far, his commission had no evidence that the Bills had been approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

"To the extent that these Bills address the terms of State Officers, they need the input of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission," said Mr Nyachae.

He added that it would be a "violation of the Constitution" to have Parliament set benefits for State Officers, because, that was the constitutional jurisdiction of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, House Speaker Kenneth Marende and his deputy Farah Maalim are poised to get a total of over Sh50 million lumpsum payout as soon as they leave office, if the two Bills are approved.

The two Deputy Prime Ministers Musalia Mudavadi and Uhuru Kenyatta will also have a mouth-watering golden handshake when the National Accord expires on Election Day in March 4, 2013.

The deal is so good for these officers such that even if they die in their retirement, their children will get paid up to half the benefits until they reach 24 years, and in some cases, the taxpayer will foot the bill of the child for the rest of that child's life.

They will also be eligible for a monthly pension at 80 per cent of their current monthly salaries for the rest of their lives.

They will also get house, entertainment, fuel, and utilities allowances, computed as a fraction of their current salary, for the rest of their lives.

Finance Minister Njeru Githae has proposed in the Bills that the President's benefits calculated at between 15 per cent and 80 per cent of his salary.

He wants a maximum of six security guards, and four cooks, four gardeners, four house keepers, four laundry persons all paid for by the taxpayer.

The Finance Minister has also recommended a diplomatic passport for a retired President Kibaki and First Lady Lucy Kibaki

Mr Odinga, Mr Musyoka and Mr Marende will each get Sh5.4 million to take home.


Families make their way through Nairobi as they head to the city's parks on December 25, 2012. PHOTO | DANIEL IRUNGU
IN PICTURES: Christmas Festivities
IN PICTURES: Jubilee endorses Uhuru Kenyatta
IN PICTURES: Cord endorse Odinga for president
 

The Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) has rejected two new Bills that prescribe hefty retirement packages for the President, the Vice President, Prime Minister and other senior State officers. Read (Don't sign Bill awarding MPs Sh2bn, Kibaki urged)

Speaking to the Nation, the chairman of the commission, Mr Charles Nyachae, said the setting of retirement packages for the State Officers was the mandate of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission

 

 

 
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Lamu banks on Sh9bn Rabai project for power

A power transmission sub-station. Ketraco plans to put up a similar one in Rabai to ease the region's dependency on expensive fuel-generated electricity. File

A power transmission sub-station. Ketraco plans to put up a similar one in Rabai to ease the region's dependency on expensive fuel-generated electricity. File

The Sh9 billion Rabai power transmission project in Lamu starts in August and is expected to trigger commmercial and industrial activity in the region.
Power transmitter Ketraco has acquired more than 80 per cent of the 323km way-leave, the parastatal's corporate communications manager Raphael Mworia said.
The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited official said ground breaking is scheduled for next month, adding engineers were finalising soil analysis.
Once complete, it will replace the 33kV single-circuit serving the region with 220 kV capacity that will provide more reliable power. The project is funded by the China Exim Bank under the rural electrification programme. It is aimed to serve Malindi, Garsen, Witu, Mpeketoni, Mokowe, and Lamu.
"The proposed project will replace many privately operated small diesel power stations which are extremely expensive to run," Mr Mworia said.
The 323km project will run from Rabai, where Ketraco has acquired a 200-acre piece of land to build a sub-station. Other sub-stations will be established in Malindi, Garsen and Lamu.
"We have acquired all the land we require and compensation is over 90 per cent complete," Mr Mworia said.
In Lamu, the project will cater for increased power requirement to run the proposed Lamu port, proposed sugar factories in the area around Tana Delta and other industries in the region.
Lack of reliable power, said Mr Mworia, has hurt small-scale firms, resulting in reduced productivity in a number of sectors. Malindi will get the increased power before the end of next year, with Lamu expected to get power nine months after, he said.
The contractor, China CAM Engineering Company Ltd has already acquired 2 campsites at Gede and Garsen both with a combined capacity to accommodate 400 workers once the construction of the project commences.
Isolated distribution network of electricity in Lamu translates to low generation capacity, meaning that not all connected consumers can be supplied with sufficient electricity.
The existing systems can only accomodate limited connections, locking out a huge number of potential customers.
"The power supply in Malindi, which is the only part of the project area supplied directly from the interconnected grid, is insufficient and unreliable," Mworia said, adding that power supply is often interrupted with consumers experiencing voltage fluctuations.
As part of the project, Kenya's first marine cable will be installed to transmit power from Mokowe on the mainland via the Indian Ocean to the Lamu Island, which relies on power generators.
Kenya Power has embarked on a plan to boost energy transmission capacity to meet load growth across the country. The plan entails construction of 38 transmission projects totalling 3,697km.
The estimated cost of committed projects is Sh43.3 billion ($482 million) while other transmission projects planned for the near future will require approximately Sh78.8 billion ($876 million).
Among the scheduled Ketraco transmission projects are; Mombasa-Nairobi 400kV double circuit, Mumias-Rangala 132kV single circuit, Sangoro-Sondu 132kV, Kindaruma-Mwingi-Garissa and Eldoret-Kitale.
Others are Kenya (Lessos)-Uganda (Tororo) 220kV single circuit, Rabai-Malindi-Garsen-Lamu 220kV single circuit, Reactive Compensation phase 1 of Nairobi Transmission system and an upgrade of Embakasi from 180MVA to 270MVA.

Farmers allege plot to import maize despite good harvest

By NATION CORRESPONDENT
Posted Friday, December 28 2012 at 00:30

In Summary

  • Mr Kipkorir Arap Menjo, who read the statement on behalf of the farmers, said the plan to import maize was wrong since maize harvest projection for this year was 40 million bags
  • The farmers said failure by the government to mop up maize that farmers had harvested this year at the set Sh3,000 a bag had given leeway to millers and middlemen to dictate prices
Farmers in the North Rift have accused top government officials and traders of scheming to import maize yet the country has adequate stock to address perennial food shortages.
The farmers said the cartel had hatched a plan to benefit from some Sh5 billion set aside for relief supplies under the Ministry of Special Programmes.
Speaking to journalists at Highlands Hotel in Eldoret after a closed-door meeting on Thursday, they protested over a move by the government to allocate Sh1.6 billion to the Agriculture ministry for buying maize.
Mr Kipkorir Arap Menjo, who read the statement on behalf of the farmers, said the plan to import maize was wrong since maize harvest projection for this year was 40 million bags.
"Sh1.6 billion can only purchase about 600,000 bags of maize and this is a drop in the ocean given that this year farmers from the North Rift had a bountiful harvest," said Mr Menjo.
Mr Tom Murgor, a farmer from Moiben in Uasin Gishu County, claimed there was a deliberate move by the National Cereals and Produce Board, some middlemen and the Treasury to deny local farmers an opportunity to sell their produce at better prices.
"There is collusion. There are well-connected people who want to benefit from contracts to supply maize and other foodstuff using funds set aside for the Ministry of Special Programmes," said Mr Murgor.
The farmers said failure by the government to mop up maize that farmers had harvested this year at the set Sh3,000 a bag had given leeway to millers and middlemen to dictate prices.
"Farmers with a number of financial commitments will have to sale their maize for as low as Sh2,100," said Ms Moira Chepkok, an aspirant for women representative seat in Uasin Gishu County.
NCPB managing director Gideon Misoi recently asked farmers to seek alternative markets since the government could not buy all the maize.

Parties face nominations fall-out

Roads minister Franklin Bett addresses a Cord rally at Nairobi's Uhuru Park last week. Photo/BILLY MUTAI

Roads minister Franklin Bett addresses a Cord rally at Nairobi's Uhuru Park last week. Photo/BILLY MUTAI NATION

By BERNARD NAMUNANE bnamunane@ke.nationmedia.com AND ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, December 27 2012 at 00:30

In Summary

  • Zoning could see big names locked out while in joint nominations top politicians must fight for survival with newcomersPolitical coalitions are facing a major dilemma on how to conduct their primaries amidst internal competition and wrangling ahead of the January 18 deadline by the electoral commission.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement has fired its National Elections Board chairman, revealing the magnitude of tension within the party ahead of the nominations.
Dr Henry Muthee Kathurima was replaced by Roads minister Franklin Bett, who
announced last week that he would not be contesting any seat in next year's elections.
And the proposed joint nomination bringing together all the 10 parties in the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) has been called off, meaning the parties will field their own candidates countrywide.
In the Jubilee alliance, tension is building up over a decree by its two principals that all aspirants from affiliate parties be subjected to joint nominations.
Cord brings together ODM, Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM), Ford Kenya and seven other parties while Jubilee coalition includes The National Alliance (TNA), United Republican Party (URP), National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) and the Republican Congress Party.
On Monday, ODM announced it had appointed Mr Bett to replace Dr Kathurima, who had been in charge of the party's internal elections.
On Wednesday, ODM secretary general Anyang' Nyong'o announced: "The appointment of Dr Henry Muthee Kathurima and Beatrice Sabana is hereby revoked."
New commissioners
"Further, the following new commissioners are appointed, Kananga M'nchebere and Mr Aggrey Taikosh Azelwa. These appointments take place with immediate effect," read a statement dispatched to newsrooms by Prof Nyong'o.
Dr Kathurima was kicked out after a month-long tug of war between the party secretariat and the elections board amid claims some senior party officials were trying to manipulate the process in favour of some "politically correct candidates".
The former chairman claimed that the plot to dish out direct nominations was being engineered by top party officials at Orange House.
"There are things which are happening because of competition for places. We as a board want to carry out our mandate without interference because that is what we pledged to do," Dr Kathurima said.
In the 2007 elections, the party's nominations were steeped in controversy after influential officials reportedly gave tickets to their friends and relatives.
Already, supporters of ODM Nairobi gubernatorial candidate Evans Kidero have raised an alarm over attempts to issue a direct nomination to one his competitors.
On Wednesday, top ODM officials, including Prof Nyong'o and executive director Janet Ongera, could not be reached for comment as they did not answer calls made to them.
In Jubilee, the decision to subject the more than 8,000 affiliate party aspirants to joint nominations has triggered fears that it may be manipulated to lock out some candidates.
In parts of Rift Valley, Central, North Eastern and Coast, some of Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto's allies will now have to face off in a move that could spark acrimony.
On Wednesday, TNA secretary general Onyango Oloo told the Nation that his party had suspended its earlier plans to conduct its own nominations to wait for the formation of Jubilee coalition's joint elections board.
"We have suspended our own nomination plans temporarily and we are hopeful that in the course of the week we shall have a joint elections board as Jubilee because that is the way to go," Mr Oloo said.
The announcement is likely to trigger fierce competition in areas where both TNA and URP and their affiliates are presenting strong candidates. In Marakwet East, for example, TNA is fielding incumbent Jebii Kilimo against URP rivals.
In Narok, former powerful Internal Security minister Julius Sunkuli (TNA) will now have to face his own brother Andrew Sunkuli (URP) for the senatorial seat.
But TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja said they had set up internal systems to ensure nominations were conducted in a transparent way.
"We are holding consultations with aspirants on elections and nomination rules so that all of them are agreeable with what we want," he said by phone, ruling out direct nominations.
URP chairman Francis ole Kaparo said the party would stick to the nomination rules agreed on with all aspirants in Nairobi two months ago.
He suggested that the IEBC should be invited to conduct the nominations subject to the availability of funds.
And nominated MP Mohammed Affey who is a member of Cord national management board said consultations had resumed with a view to conducting joint nominations in three cosmopolitan counties to "increase the coalition's chances of winning the seats."
"We are revisiting this matter so that we can have joint nominations in all the cosmopolitan counties especially Nairobi, Nakuru and Mombasa," Mr Affey told the Nation on phone. (READ: Jubilee aspirants to
 
 
 
--- On Sun, 10/28/12, Judy Miriga <jbatec@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Judy Miriga <jbatec@yahoo.com>
Subject: Vision 2030 is a Serious Conspiracy Scam Worse than Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing....
To: "Judy Miriga" <jbatec@yahoo.com>
Date: Sunday, October 28, 2012, 12:20 AM

Good People,

The Scam of Vision 2030 is real. It is criminal and pathetic. It is a continuation of Colonialism Conspiracy by the Unscrupulous International Corporate Special Business Interest commissioning Chinese Agents to facilitate Free Trading investments in Kenya/East Africa and Sub-Sahara African in jeopardy to rip-off and steal from Africa's Wealth Resource corruptly, illicitly, with impunity and in graft without due care for Human Rights, and in full glare of Violation of all forms of human rights and abuse of the same.

I don't agree that being black is associated with poverty. It is a condition through oppressive rule, intimidation and marginalization that majority of middle-class and the disadvantaged poor are systematically pushed through an organized calculated jeopardy in a conspiracy theory to benefit unscrupulous International Corporate Special Business Interest group of close friends, who use their wealth, connection and power to lobby, monopolize and control International business through terrorizing people and through influencing threats and fears, intimidation and marginalization against those who oppose or challenge their interest to suppress human rights.

In the Ancient times in history, Africans in their Community had their cultures and traditions, with their Kings including ancient Egyptians who were Black. During that time and even now, Africans are known to be peaceful and prosperous. More specifically the Nilotics never begged for food. They tilled and saved enough to feed the whole family for the rest of the year until the next rainy season before colonization begun. Some of the greatest civilizations that have ever existed, existed in Africa and the Middle east. However, for whatever reason, there cultures have collapsed.

The conspiracy to sell guns to Africans corrupt leaders so Africans kill and destroy themselves for the colonizer to walk free and loot owning African Wealth and Resources is what is destroying peace and unity with excessive poverty in Africa. African families, women and children are terrorized, carelessly killed, exposed to pain and sufferings, their livelihood and survival are being destroyed and the world is turning a blind eye.

After the Colonials have looted and exploited Africa's wealth and resources and enslaved Africa financially through World Bank, IMF with other UN Financial Institutions, these International Special Interest business network to conspire with the Chinese to physically rape and destroy Africa through environmental pollution; taking and controlling all business potentials and shipping wealth and Natural Resource to China Industries.

This is a serious crime against humanity. It violates and abuse human dignity value and virtue in ways and means and it cannot be tolerated.

A properly working society in a good Democratic governance is possible to shape Africa to its former Glory, if the jeopardy of conspiracy which the black people have endured in some of the worst and most horrific acts of racism and bigotry against them by the Special Interest begin to respect Human Rights and see reality for what it is.

Making Profit from killings and destroying livelihood and survival from the Pearl of Africa and marginalizing, intimidating and oppressing people of African descent from living an honest responsible and dignified livelihood is the worse criminal act ever known on earth since creation. Africans are destroyed and wiped out from brutal, long pain suffering organized terrorism of a Jungle primitive warfare, feeding black with cocaine drugs etc., for sinister motives is cruel and pathetic……and this must stop………

It cannot be denied the fact that there is a Conspiracy against blacks ..........crack cocaine was invented to destroy black people. Child prostitution, Trafficking and porno is invented to destroy Black families. Mostly the Rich and wealthy whites hates black with a passion and none of it is secret. Things cannot continue to be this way……..We have pleaded and prayed for Peace and Unity, we have paid by our Blood and Sweat, what else shall we do to get the respect we deserve as Human Beings and be treated with respect…….???

"Give and Take" Fair Business Undertaking:

We believe that Respect must be a two ways traffic………Give and Take……and in Mutual common interest, we all must engage in business where all must play by the same set of rules. This will bring greater harmony, Peace and Unity and in sharing our cultural values in diversity.

Precious Gold, Diamond, Colta, Titanium, Oil, Water, Agricultural Produce for Business and Jewellery Trade:

This business have caused a lot of harm to our brothers and sisters in Congo and Ethiopia. Diamond and Gold as Blood money in Congo have been advocated by many Civil Societies, NGOs and sympathizers and the killings of Congolese is still going on…..There are deliberate attempts from some powerful rich and powerful who hate and are in conspiracy to cause confusion and fuel animosity at subversion of black culture, in a few incidents forcing men to circumcise against their tradition and culture over a conspiracy of HIV/Aids when it is clearly and scientifically known that HIV/Aids is not spread by the un-cut….!!!!!!

Ethiopia was once known as the "jewel of the world" until after World War Two….... Patrice Lumumba of Congo is popularly believed, was brutally killed because he demanded Fair Trading with good Democratic Governance……..and because the powerful White Traders demanded to control wealth of the Congolese at their disposal without Regulation or Fair Deal to the Congolese.

Gold offered no better a story. We witnessed shocking conditions in the gold mining areas where people claim they are forced to live with dangerously high levels of pollution around the mines and where poverty drives men to mine illegally.

Cocoa, Tea, Coffee, Titanium, Colta, Gold & Diamond, Oil, Water, Fish and Agri-Business are all traded at the International Emerging Markets, an example of only 1- 3% of African Trading Commodities is known to have been purchased at the fair trading price. But the situation is worsening since Africans are not represented at the G20 to bargain for their fair value……Who is really profiting from Agricultural and Mineral Produce with outsourced Industry products…….???

Vision 2030 in Kenya/East Africa and the Sub-Sahara:

The Bank campaigned for free-market without consideration of value to Africa's potentials. Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) is one of their tool attached to the manipulation of loan to Africa which has caused economic instability, caused many scandals to slide including Political and social disintegration with environmental disasters posing in numerous African developing countries. The Bank collaborated with dictators with corrupt governments to push for conditions of the spoil. It was their conspiracy to African values and dignity to destroy cultural values for greater diversity, profit in democracy and human rights and this made World Bank, IMF and United Nations Financial Institution "Wicked" when it comes to matters of Black and Africa.

Vision 2030 is not realistic. President Kibaki appointed Mugo Kibati as Director General of the Vision Delivery Secretariat." This secretariat was not Legitimately appointed by the Parliament or supervised by the CIC. It was set up as a semi-autonomous Government Agency with an independent budget. A lot of money has been transferred from the World Bank, IMF with other UN Financial Trading Organizations for Vision 2030 program without details of feasibility or logistics for Statement of Facts to be used by the Legislatures in Parliament for guidance or reference.

These endless corrupt schemes are creating an unjust society and eventually, people are going to figure out that they are being fooled and they are going to react. The demographics of the country should be a warning sign to everyone that this reaction is on it's way.

International Corporate Special Interest Engagement:

Regulatory principles for Engagement Business Commitment of Corporate Investments to embrace the value driven for Vision 2030 Pathways and Resources to facilitate shared values where it creates meaningful opportunities for the Corporates interests to promote incentives for healthier working environment between the Investments Corporates and those of the Public/Society/Community's interest to participate in employment or contribute in Welfare Development programs to provide a balance benefiting all according to public mandate is not indicative anywhere and people are left with hanging questions of authenticity and legitimacy.

This vision 2030 is a scam. The Coalition Government plan to use this project for their self-interest and self-gain and not that of the public. The money is believed to have been diverted through Equity bank. James Mwangi just happen to be rubber stamped as the Chairman of the vision 2030 committee. Vision 2030 is used as a ponzi scheme or Hedge Funding for the rest of the Regional programs for East Africa. They needed a continuous cash flow to keep going, and thus using Government Facilities and Utilities to facilitate the same. Equities customer deposits are too low to keep the scheme going. The difference will be made up by government funded projects in the name of vision 2030, yet it is a private entity.......This must be investigated........


Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com




Watch this: .......

In Public Demand, What information should we know about Lamu Port and why is the constant killings of the innocent local community in Tana River, Turkana and in Lamu ?
Kenya's Lamu Port Corridor proposal, part of "Vision 2030", would be Kenya's biggest ever civil engineering project. It would build a pipeline to deliver oil from South Sudan to a new refinery near Lamu on the coast, build facilities to ship the oil from a giant tanker terminal, lay more than 1700km of new highways and railways to South Sudan and Ethiopia, and build three new airports and tourist resorts in Lamu, Isiolo and at Lake Turkana.
The consultancy project alone – with Japan Port Consultants – will cost the Kenya treasury more than $20 million. The padding out of the price tag with unnecessary and highly paid staff has been the subject of an investigation by Jaindi Kisero at the Daily Nation. As Jaindi points out, there is no mention of the Lamu Port Corridor consultancy on Japan Port Consultants' website, though JPC does profile their agreement on a Mombasa port consultancy (use the Google Chrome browser for in-page translation). It's also curious that consultancy work on a massive road, rail, airport and hotel-building project has been commissioned to a consultancy specialising in harbours and shipping.
Concerned Anonymous on July 24, 2010 at 5:16 am
Since then,the picture has only been rosy for the cable manufacturer. Last year,it expanded by acquiring a 51 per cent stake in Tanzania's Daesung Cables. The price tag was Shs 160 million. And for now the sky is the new port of call for the cable manufacturer.
At the juncture,the Merali/Moi group pounced. They hurriedly patched up a company,Yana Trading,as a subsidiary of Sameer and made a quick purchase of the cable manufacturer. They bought the company at a throw away price of Shs 110 million against its market value of Shs 274 million.
So, in the broader scheme of things, you should be looking at these stories and asking yourself, how can one operate in a wheel & deal culture (or a semi-criminal economy) when the playing field is either not level or totally corrupt? To think you can do it just on hard work or innovation would be quite naive.
What are the proposed benefits of the Lamu Port Corridor and who will benefit in the short term….? What are the value prospects in measurable short and long term against the total cost of expenditure ??
The main benefits would be the economic development of northern Coast Province and the districts of northern Kenya through which the pipeline and railway route would pass. A secondary benefit would be to create a strategic communications route through north-east Kenya, a region currently exposed to the dangers of Somalia's ongoing disintegration and lawlessness.
What negative impact would the project have on Lamu Environmental pollution?....How is the Government organized to safeguard that???
Most dramatically, there would be a huge influx of migrant labourers from other parts of Kenya.
Lamu town would become a service and transport hub. A bridge to the mainland and a fast highway to Malindi would be likely to follow, which would bring roads, vehicles and building development onto Lamu. This level of infrastructure development is incompatible with Lamu's status as a Unesco World Heritage site. The town is the best existing example of a Swahili city and preserves a mass of features, through which its origins can be traced to the 14th century or earlier.
Would locals benefit from the development at the port?......If yes, how???
In many cases there would be financial benefits in terms of jobs for school-leavers and bigger markets for local businesses. Some locals might also consider closer physical links with the rest of Kenya to be an advantage, emphasizing national unity.
What are the disadvantages the locals might see and are there impacts the public are witnessing from the ongoing projects….?....How is the Government relating to those disadvantages…..???
Rapid, economic development parachuted onto the district would be socially disruptive. Much of the social fabric in Lamu is held together by tradition and family connections and those would be severely challenged by new opportunities and inward migration. Lamu's attraction as a destination for low-key, getaway cultural tourism would face equally severe challenges which would likely see it morph into a northern version of the international-style hotel development common near Mombasa.
Can the development be stopped or changed?
The consultancy process alone has already cost the Kenya treasury more than Ksh1 billion ($11 million). The normal tender process wasn't used before the Japanese consultancy was recruited, and massive corruption is being investigated by the media. The treasury has now obtained a 35% discount on the consultancy fees, and payments are currently on hold. Building the facilities and the railway links to South Sudan and Ethiopia would be extremely costly and the project would carry some security risk from local banditry and even Somali jihadists. Even if construction starts, it is quite likely that Ethiopia and South Sudan will have made other export arrangements long before it is completed.

Is a more sustainable, less intrusive option available?
Yes, the full development of Mombasa port and a high-speed rail link to Nairobi and Uganda would be much more cost-effective and would sit on or alongside existing infrastructure. In terms of distance, the Lamu plan has no tangible benefits to exporters based in Juba, Addis Ababa or northern Kenya over this alternative. A new oil pipeline from South Sudan could be routed to Mombasa just as easily as to Lamu.
Whose Gains and Interest is pushing for this project?
Japanese consultants, Chinese and local contractors, and local vested interests. It is said to be "close to President Kibaki's heart" – or just where his wallet resides, as many Kenyans would say.
How likely is it that the project will go ahead?
The Lamu Port Corridor consultancy is the most expensive feasibility study ever undertaken by the Kenya government. The whole project may yet turn out to have been, either deliberately or through mismanagement, a massive white elephant consultancy project intended to offer the biggest possible private benefit to every party involved without, in the end, delivering a feasible programme for actually carrying out the work.
It is funny in a very sad way the way people are defending Equity and Transcentury. They are both pale imitations of a model that is broken, has collapsed in the West, but is now being defended as indigenous to Kenya. AIG? Bear Stearn's anyone?
Nobody seems to look at the origination of the economic model, it was started during the era of the Structural Adjustment Programmes advocated by IMF, World Bank the "Chicago Boys".
If Kenya's goal is to emulate or simply copied some of the Asian nations program, then maybe we should emulate their economic strategies. Was there a thorough feasibility study…???
During the 90′s they " resisted the Washington consensus. They put restrictions on capital flows. The giants of Asia—China and India—managed their economies their own way, producing unprecedented growth But elsewhere, and especially in the countries where the World Bank and the I.M.F. held sway, things did not go well." (Vanity Fair article, http://www.vanityfair.com/poli.....debt200907).
If there is to be true economic growth, we need a better vision. For those concerned about KE's observations, his thoughts are what quite a number of overseas investors can see in the Kenyan economy. Also, this focus on overseas investors, interesting… hmm?
Btw, are there still discussions of privatization of water? Can you imagine what that effect would have on ordinary people?
It is telling that someone would think that only 50 percent of Kenyans are in poverty. This is how the PEV happened and yet it seems nobody in Special Branch knew what was happening.
Keep up the work, KE. Let the people know the Emperor is naked.
Taking the very long view in strategic planning, is there something to worry about??
Vision statements are fine tools for ensuring that an executive team - and an entire company - are focused on the same things; however, they are often used badly.
Before a team sits down to define the future, it is safe to assume that each person comes with two different understandings: the exact year 'the future' refers to; and what constitutes his/her vision for that year.
Too many companies jump right into statement building only to discover after consensus is achieved that half the team is in 2021 while the other half is in 2012. Some never discover this fact and suffer when discord breaks out as budgets, targets, and interim measures need to be defined.

Good future statements are based on specific years, with follow-up report, does this vision have the same followed with monitory and inspection, if so, by who…..???
The fact is, it is impossible to accomplish big goals unless you are able to see that far in your mind's eye.

What prevents these 20- and 30-year visions from turning into random fantasies is the next step: laying out the details of what happens in the planning year. Once the team completes the prior two steps, they can describe the destination in measurable details.
Revenues, profits, financial ratios, headcounts, physical locations, geographic locations, bi-lingual abilities, these are all examples of the metrics that are used to convert a far-away future into a coherent, measurable goal.
The last step is the so-called Merlin Process in which the future targets are connected to today's actuals in a single matrix. Many adjustments take place at this step as the team ensures that there is a feasible pathway from the present to the planning year. Unfortunately, this is usually the point at which some nice-to-haves must be discarded as the true essence of the plan emerges.




Vision 2030: Reality or Mirage?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

President Mwai Kibaki flanked by PM Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, VP Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka and Minister for Planning Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya unveils the Vision 2030 Logo after he officially launched the vision and its First Medium Term plan at KICC, Nairobi.
Government of Kenya launches the most ambitious development plan since independence
The Kenya Vision 2030 has finally been launched after the successful harmonization of the 2007 pre-election manifestos of ODM, PNU and ODM-K, which are the three main political parties forming the grand coalition government. The vision is planned to be implemented via 5 year medium-term rolling plans that will run concurrently with electoral cycle, and the first phase starts from June 2008 to 2012.
According to an upbeat Planning Minister - Wycliffe Oparanya - the government plans to invest a staggering Kshs1.6 trillion (approx. US$25.2 billion) over the next five years so as to transform Kenya into a middle-income earner in the next 22 years. In other words, Kenya wants to play in the same league as the famed Asian 'tigers' – all very laudable.
Information released yesterday indicate that Vision 2030 development plan is based on what the government calls three "pillars" namely; economic, social and political pillars. I must admit however, I have not exhaustively read the full version but sneak previews reveal that:
The ECONOMIC PILLAR aims at providing prosperity of all Kenyans by the year 2030. In conservative terms, and this is the target government has given itself, Kenya must achieve a GDP growth rate of 10% per annum for the next 25 years beginning next year! Bearing in mind that the growth rate for the last five years was somewhere between 2% to 6% (and these are Kimunya's figures), and that even the current rate is expected to reverse back to 4% as effects of the post election skirmishes sink in, is a 10% growth rate really feasible within the next financial year? Unlikely I say, and even if Kenya achieves this, is it sustainable?
The SOCIAL PILLAR seeks to build "a just and cohesive society with social equity in a clean and secure environment" whereas the POLITICAL PILLAR aims at "realising a democratic political system founded on issue-based politics that respects the rule of law, and protects the rights and freedoms of every individual in the Kenyan society" – again all very laudable...... after all this is what ODM has been trying to teach PNU ever since the NARC/LDP days when they were busy hatching anglo-leasing deals!
Even to the most optimistic Kenyan, it is hard to imagine that Kenya as a country will actually raise the prerequisite investment, maintain political stability and achieve national cohesion all of which are required to pave the roadmap to the year 2030. And why not, one may ask?
Well, for a country led by such self serving politicians who are also anti-reform, this plan is already doomed even before it starts. It is obvious even to a casual observer that the GCG is teetering at the edge of breaking down. Just two days ago, senior ODM member and cabinet minister called a press conference in the company of Spokesman Salim Lone and warned the PNU partner to 'tread carefully'.
Before Ntimama's warning could be digested, the bitterly contested parliamentary by-elections in five constituencies were already scheduled and are underway as I type these lines. The very strange coincidence here is that ODM lost two of those seats in the most violent manner earlier this year. These murders are still unresolved! The third had to be annulled when ODM was in the lead and a hired mob barricaded the counting hall while the fourth, in one of the strangest coincident and in what should be the world's first, was called a 'tie' when the ECK announced the elections results. Only the fifth was voluntarily given up by ODM. As if this is not enough, two ODM members died yesterday in a yet to be explained aircraft accident. What is so wrong about being an ODM MP? Are they 'marked' men and women or these deaths are mere coincidences? My take is that 10% economic growth rate and foreign direct investment running into billions of dollars hardly ever comes when only ODM MPs are dying like flies. What's your take?
On top of this political minefield, even the minister Oparanya conceded, Kenya has still to overcome humongous challenges such as high unemployment, widespread poverty, gross inequalities in income distribution and development disparities in different regions of the country and gender inequalities. One wonders whether ODM (then LDP) was talking to walls during the initial years of the NARC regime because these are the same issues that have always been highlighted on the national agenda, and are the force behind calls for a peoples' driven reform process!
It has taken a bungled election, over a thousand five hundred deaths and massive displacements to harmonize these manifestos. Hopefully this time, ODM (Chungwa Moja Maisha Bora) is in partnership with reasonable gentlemen!

Bensouda pledges to uphold ICC legal mandate to end impunity

Updated March 30th 2012 6 hr(s) 33 min(s) ago

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International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo. [PHOTO:FILE/STANDARD]

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Victims ask for more evidence in ICC casesBY WALTER MENYA

Incoming International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has praised Kenyans? response to the confirmation of charges against four individuals accused of crimes against humanity.

Ms Bensouda, who is the deputy prosecutor, also dismissed claims that the court was only targeting Africa and pledged to advance her predecessor Luis Moreno-Ocampo?s approach to fighting impunity.

"All segments of the Kenyan society have welcomed the court?s investigation into the post-election violence and the recent confirmation of charges has been well received by the Kenyan people," she told the Pretoria-based regional human security policy think-tank, the Institute for Security Studies.

On January 23, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber confirmed cases against four Kenyans ? Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, former Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura and radio journalist Joshua arap Sang for their alleged role in post-election violence. All the four have appealed the ruling.

The Chamber, however, declined to confirm charges against Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey and Postmaster General Mohammed Hussein Ali.

It?s about victims

Bensouda actively took part in the confirmation of charges hearings against the initial six suspects and strongly argued the prosecution?s case. Earlier apprehensions that the confirmation of charges could spark violence did not happen.

And Uhuru and Ruto have also been holding peace rallies as they campaign for presidency. An Ipsos-Synovate poll released this week showed that 60 per cent of Kenyans were satisfied with the Pre-Trial Chamber rulings. The deputy prosecutor spoke on Monday, when she denied claims that ICC was a political court targeting Africans.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Poverty and Environment Initiative – Kenya

Poverty and Environment Issues:

Governance Institutions, Institutional Frameworks

and Opportunities for Communities.

August 2006

And With Financial

PEI Secretariat

Support From UK's

c/o DRSRS

Department For

P.O. Box 47146-00100

International Development

Nairobi, Kenya

(DFID) and the

Tel: ++254-(0)20-602861

Government of

Email: swasao@nbnet.co.ke

Luxembourg


Poverty and Environment Initiative – Kenya

The Poverty and Environment Initiative (PEI) aims to support the

integration of environment into development policy, planning and

budgeting processes in Kenya. The PEI project responds to the identified

need by Government on the importance of the environment in achieving its

9th

economic recovery and poverty reduction goals. The National

Development Plan (2002-2008) state "the full integration of environmental

concerns in development planning at all levels if decision making remains a

challenge to the country". It acknowledges, "in view of the high incidence of

poverty in the country, the need to integrate environmental concerns in

development activities should be given high priority".

The Ministry of Planning and National Development (MPND) leads the

project in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Natural

Resources (MENR) and the National Environment Management Authority

(NEMA). The project receives support from UNDP and UNEP, and

financial support from the UK's Department for International Development

(DFID) and the Government of Luxembourg.

This report was prepared by:

WWF EARPO & BSI Ltd

On behalf of the Poverty and Environment Initiative – Kenya


TABLE OF CONTENTS

INSIDE COVER ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I

TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------II

LIST OF TABLES----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IV

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------V

AKNOWLEDGEMENT --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------VI

1.0 INTRODUCTION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY ---------------------------------------------------------------------1

1.2 SCOPE OF THE STUDY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

2.0 POVERTY AND ENVIRONMENT----------------------------------------------------------------------2

2.1 DEFINITIONS USED IN POVERTY ANALYSIS IN KENYA ------------------------------------2

2.2 POVERTY-ENVIRONMENT-ECONOMY LINKAGES IN KENYA-----------------------------3

2.3 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS IN UNDERSTANDING POVERTY AND -------------------6

ENVIRONMENT LINKAGES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6

2.3.1 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and global commitments ---------------------------6

2.3.1.1 MDGs in the Kenyan Context -----------------------------------------------------------------------------6

2.3.1.2 Linkages between Kenya's PRSP, ERS and MDG goals ---------------------------------------------7

2.3.1.3 Assessment of policy integration of poverty and environment---------------------------------------9

2.3.2 The World Bank's Environment Strategy --------------------------------------------------------10

2.3.3 UNDP and UNEP Poverty Environment Initiative (PEI) --------------------------------------10

2.4 ASPECTS OF POVERTY IN THE KENYA CONTEXT -------------------------------------------11

2.4.1 Inequitable Political Economy ---------------------------------------------------------------------11

2.4.2 Rapidly Depleting Natural Resource Base--------------------------------------------------------13

2.4.3 HIV/AIDS----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14

2.4.4 Drought, Floods and Food Insecurity-------------------------------------------------------------15

2.4.5 Globalization ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16

2.4.6 Democratization---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16

2.5 ASPECTS OF POVERTY AT THE DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY LEVEL------------------20

ANALYSIS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20

2.5.1 Natural resource-based economic activities ------------------------------------------------------21

2.5.2 District planning and development processes ----------------------------------------------------23

2.6 LESSONS LEARNED FROM COMMUNITY LEVEL INITIATIVES---------------------------24

2.6.1 Local Ownership - Positive Lessons ---------------------------------------------------------------24

2.6.1.1 Rangeland Conservation---------------------------------------------------------------------------------24

2.6.1.2 Integrated Market Development Initiative for Mango ----------------------------------------------25

2.6.1.3 Ecotourism -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------25

2.6.1.4 Wetlands Conservation-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------26

2.6.1.5 Integrated Urban Environmental Management -----------------------------------------------------26

2.6.1.6 Community Management and Conservation of Protected Areas----------------------------------27

2.6.2 Local Ownership - Negative Lessons --------------------------------------------------------------27

2.6.2.1 Non-Resident Cultivation (Shamba) System----------------------------------------------------------27

2.6.3 Government Interventions - Mixed Lessons------------------------------------------------------28

2.6.3.1 GoK ASAL Initiatives and Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) Activities-------------28

2.7 THE TRIAD OF POVERTY, ENVIRONMENT AND CHILD HEALTH------------------------30

3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK------------------32

3.1 INSTITUTIONALFRAMEWORKATTHENATIONALLEVEL -------------------------------32

3.1.1 National Environment Management Authority--------------------------------------------------32

-ii


3.1.2 Public Complaints Committee ----------------------------------------------------------------------33

3.1.3 National Environment Tribunal--------------------------------------------------------------------33

3.2 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AT THE DECENTRALIZED LEVELS --------------------33

3.2.1 Provincial Environment Committee ---------------------------------------------------------------33

3.2.2 District Environment Committee-------------------------------------------------------------------34

3.2.3 Grassroots (community) governance structures -------------------------------------------------34

3.3 BETTER INFORMED AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION -----------------35

3.3.1 Access to Information--------------------------------------------------------------------------------35

3.3.2 Effective community participation -----------------------------------------------------------------36

3.3.3 Improved accountability and dispute resolution -------------------------------------------------37

3.4 OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN--------------------38

COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNANCE INSTITUTIONS ---------------------------------------------------38

3.4.1 Establishment of electronic reporting mechanisms ---------------------------------------------38

3.4.2 Capacity for Public Participation ------------------------------------------------------------------38

3.4.3 Strengthening cross-sectoral linkages-------------------------------------------------------------39

4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND WAY FORWARD --------------------------------------------------41

4.2 INTEGRATE ENVIRONMENT INTO MAINSTREAMING DEVELOPMENT ---------------42

BUDGETING--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------42

4.3 INTEGRATE ENVIRONMENT INTO WEALTH AND EMPLOYMENT CREATION-------42

4.4 DEVELOPANDSUSTAINANENABLINGENVIRONMENTALBUSINESS ---------------43

CLIMATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------43

REFERENCES---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------45

APPENDIX I: TERMS OF REFERENCE -----------------------------------------------------------------------48

-iii


LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Key social indicators in Kenya----------------------------------------------------------5

Table 2: Linkages between Kenya's PRSP, ERS and MDG goals ----------------------------8

Table 3: Forest resources, Kenya----------------------------------------------------------------13

Table 4: CDF funding for environmental projects in 9 rural and 2 urban districts--------19

Table 5: Poverty-environment challenges in 9 rural and 2 urban districts -----------------21

Table 6: District Development Strategies in 9 rural and 2 urban districts -----------------23

Table 7: Root causes of environmental economic issues and policy responses in Kenya 40

-iv


ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

ARV

Anti-Retroviral (treatment for

AIDS)

ASAL Arid and Semi-Arid Areas

CBO Community-Based

Organizations

CDF Community Development Fund

CERMP Community environment and

resource management plan

COMESA Common Market for Eastern

and Southern Africa

COMPACT Community Management of

Protected Areas Conservation

CORE Conservation of Resources

through Enterprise

CSO Civil Society organization

DFID Department for International

Development

DFRD District Focus for Rural

Development

DPC District Projects Committee

EAC East African Community /

Cooperation

EMCA Environment Management &

Coordination Act

EPZ Export Processing Zone

ERS Economic Recovery Strategy

FAO Food and Agricultural

Organisation of the UN

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GNP Gross national Product

GoK Government of Kenya

HIV/AIDS Human Immuno-Deficiency

Virus / Acquired Immune

Deficiency Syndrome

ICT Information and

Communications Technology

IP-ERS Economic Recovery Strategy

Investment Programme

IPRSP Interim Poverty Reduction

Strategy

IUCN EARO

The World Conservation

Union, East Africa Regional

Office

KANU Kenya African National Union

KDHS Kenya Demographic Health

Survey

KGT Kenya Gatsby Trust

KLGRP Kenya Local Government

Reform Programme

LA Local Authority

LASDAP

LATF

MDG

MOH

MTEF

NEMA

NWFP

NARC

NET

NGO

NMC

NPEP

ODA

PEI

PPA

PRA

PRSP

SAP

TB

UN

UNCED

UNDP

USAID

WMS

WSSD

WWF EARPO

Local Authority Service Delivery

Action Plan

Local Authority Transfer Fund

Millennium Development Goals

Ministry of Health

Medium Term Expenditure

Framework

National Environment

Management Agency

Non-Forest Wood Products

National Rainbow Coalition

National Environment Tribunal

Non-Governmental Organisation

National Poverty Eradication Plan

National Poverty Eradication Plan

Official Development Assistance

Poverty-Environment Initiative

Participatory Poverty Assessments

Participatory Rural Appraisals

Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper

Structural Adjustment Programme

Tuberculosis

United Nations

United Nations Conference on

Environment and Development

United Nations Development

Programme

United States Agency for

International Development

Welfare Monitoring Survey

World Summit for Sustainable

Development

World Wildlife Fund East African

Regional Office

-v


AKNOWLEDGEMENT

Many thanks to all those who shared their time and insights during the poverty and

environment consultative process. Special thanks are due to the following; The Ministry

of Planning and National Development (MPND), the Ministry of Environment

and Natural Resources (MENR), the National Environment Management

Authority (NEMA) in providing leadership to the project on a partnership basis,

and to UNDP and UNEP for support. Thanks also to UK's Department for

International Development (DFID) and the Government of Luxembourg for

financial support to the initiative.

-vi


1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The government of Kenya (GoK) recognises the importance of the environment in

achieving economic recovery and poverty reduction goals highlighted in the Economic

Recovery Strategy (ERS) for Wealth and Employment Creation (2003 – 2007). The ERS

recognizes that "… economic recovery needs to be sustainable if the objectives of poverty

reduction and wealth creation are to be achieved". In the National Development Plan

2002 – 2008, the government further recognises that "… the full integration of

environmental concerns in development planning at all levels of decision making remains

a challenge to the country" and further stresses that "… in view of the high incidence of

poverty in the country, the need to integrate environmental concerns in development

activities should be given high priority".

In response to this, the government of Kenya has developed a work programme, the

Kenya Poverty Environment initiative (PEI). The Ministry of Planning and National

Development led the programme development in partnership with the National

Environment Management Authority (NEMA). The project is a part of the global UNDPUNEP

Poverty Environment Initiative and is supported by the UNDP, UNEP, and the

Department for International Development (DFID).

The development of the Kenya PEI has highlighted a number of constraints in the

realisation of the economic and social benefits of improved natural resource management.

These include, inappropriate institutional structures and arrangements; lack of adequate

all encompassing framework for integrating environment into policy and planning

process; narrow sectoral focus of development planning and programmes, and weak

frameworks of incentives for integration of poverty-environment relationships across

sectoral planning; inadequate government resources for undertaking environmental

interventions; inadequate capacities at the national and local level for sector-wide and

cross-sectoral working; and the need for stronger partnerships with civil society and

private sector.

1.2 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

To provide a foundation for the Kenya PEI's further work, this study has an overall aim

of identifying the key poverty and environment issues in Kenya for delivering sustainable

economic growth and poverty reduction (see Annex I: TORs). Focus is on three key

areas, i.e.

(a) Critical poverty issues and environment opportunities for supporting the income of

poor communities in Kenya,

(b) Institutional framework at the National, District and Constituencies levels which

govern the management of natural resources, and

-1


(c) Opportunities to strengthen the relationship between communities and governance

institutions for better management of natural resources.

Section 2 of the study report gives an overview of poverty-environment issues in the

Kenyan context, poverty-environment conceptual frameworks, global commitments, and

critical poverty-environment issues. Section (3) covers existing institutional frameworks,

opportunities to strengthen relationship between communities and the government, and

elements for the way forward. Section (4) summaries overall conclusions and formulates

a set of recommendations for action.

2.0 POVERTY AND ENVIRONMENT

Poverty is multidimensional and complex in nature and manifests itself in various forms

making its definition difficult. Perceived differently by different people, some limit the

term to mean a lack of material well-being and others arguing that lack of things like

freedom, spiritual well-being, civil rights and nutrition must also contribute to the

definition of poverty. Though often defined in absolute or relative terms for purposes of

comparing groups, poor people do have their own definitions that arise from their own

perceptions. Absolute Poverty is defined in terms of the requirements considered

adequate to satisfy minimum basic needs, and the absolute poor have no means to meet

these needs. Relative poverty however is used to refer to a poverty line, which is

proportional to the mean or median income or expenditure, for instance the use of

percentile cut-offs to define relative poverty line at, say, the bottom 20 percent of

individuals in the distribution of income or expenditure [Mariara & Ndeng'e (2004)].

The world's poor depend critically on fertile soils, clean water and healthy ecosystems

for their livelihoods and well-being. This reliance creates complex, dynamic interactions

between environmental conditions, people's access to and control over environmental

resources, and poverty. Understanding the nature of these relationships is a prerequisite

for enduring success in the fight against poverty [Kimalu, et. al. (2001)].

2.1 DEFINITIONS USED IN POVERTY ANALYSIS IN KENYA

Definition of poverty in Kenya is largely informed with the qualitative approach based on

various Welfare Monitoring Surveys (WMS) and Participatory Poverty Assessments

(PPAs) undertaken since 1992 and 1994 respectively, where it was evident that

communities define, view and experience poverty in different ways. The findings of

PPAs in Africa were meant by the World Bank to show the complex relationship between

poverty profiles, public policies, expenditures and institutions. WMS studies (1992, 1994,

and 1997) were national surveys for measuring the living standards of the Kenyan people.

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The WMS adopted the material well-being perception of poverty in which the poor are

defined as those members of society who are unable to afford minimum basic human

needs, comprised of food and non-food items. In the third PPA of 2001, people mainly

defined poverty as the 'inability to meet their basic needs - associated with features such

as lack of land, unemployment, inability to feed oneself and one's family, lack of proper

housing, poor health and inability to educate children and pay medical bills' [Mariara &

Ndeng'e (2004)]. Other definitions have included '… natural calamities, traditions and

cultural beliefs that deny women access to productive assets' [MPND, GoK (2003)].

Both definitions had several complications in determining the minimum requirements and

the amounts of money necessary to meet the said requirements [Mariara & Ndeng'e

(2004)]. The PRSP adopted the quantitative measures of poverty based on the 1997

welfare survey (WMS III) data. It similarly recognized that poverty is multi-dimensional

and defines poverty to include '… inadequacy of income and deprivation of basic needs

and rights, and lack of access to productive assets as well as to social infrastructure and

markets'. The WMS III estimated the absolute poverty line at Kshs 1,239 per person per

month and Kshs 2,648 respectively for rural and urban areas [HRW (2006); MPND, GoK

(2004)]. The PRSP was based on these poverty lines (quantitative data), together with

qualitative data from PPAs to generate information on the magnitude, extent, nature and

characteristics of poverty.

2.2 POVERTY-ENVIRONMENT-ECONOMY LINKAGES IN KENYA

Current literature highlights the recognition the GoK has given to the fact that economic

growth, poverty and environment, are inter-linked. Kenya has a total land area of 582,650

km2, of which approximately 80% is arid or semi-arid (ASAL). Only 20% of the total

land area is arable. Currently, the country's population is about 33 million people, 7580%

of who live in the rural areas in the high- and medium-potential agricultural areas of

the central and western regions of the country [IDD (2002); MENR, GoK (2002)]. The

arid lands, which cover 60% of the country, are home to 1 million semi-nomadic and

nomadic people or about 5% of the country's population, nearly all of them poor

[Kimalu, et. al. (2001)]. The population distribution varies from 230 persons per km2 in

high potential areas to 3 persons per km2 in arid areas. Only about 20% of the land area

consists of high to medium potential agricultural land, and this supports 80% of the

population. In addition, Kenya is faced with a high dependency burden, with over 50% of

the population below 15 years of age. The population in absolute poverty was estimated

to be 44.7% in 1992, 52% in 1997, and 56% by 2002. Overall estimates indicate the poor

cater for 49 % of the urban population and 53 % of the rural population [Mongabay

(2006)]. Today, the major indicators of poverty can be recognized in a number of sectors

including - low coverage in water supply services; a general decline in child nutrition and

the provision of health services; increased pressure on environmental goods and services,

especially the forest resources; and increased numbers of people receiving below

minimum level of dietary energy consumption [MENR, GoK (2002)].

-3


The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment1of 2001 developed a way of assessing human

well-being and environment, with a focus on the state of ecosystem services

(provisioning, regulating and enriching). A 2005 report on Kenya [UNEP/IISD, (2005)]

lists (1) maintenance of biodiversity, (2) food provision; (3) water supply, purification

and regulation, and (4) energy resources, as the four critical ecosystem services

deteriorating in Kenya.

Maintenance of biodiversity: Fauna found in the savannah areas supports tourism that

accounts for approximately 19 % of Kenya's GDP, and is the second foreign exchange

earner. Kenya's forests support high biodiversity in addition to supplying important non-

timber forest products (NTFP) including medicinal plants, tannins, essential oils and

beeswax in addition to woodfuel. More than 2.9 million people live adjacent to forests,

with 10% of those near Mt. Kenya. Yet Kenyan forests are shrinking due to

encroachment as a consequence of ongoing smallholder agriculture, clear-cutting and

wood extraction, livestock rearing, NTFP collection and forest fires. Currently, there are

50 endangered species, and 21 critically endangered species [UNEP/IISD, (2005)]. The

economic repercussions are highlighted in the sub-sections on water and energy supply

below.

Food provision: Kenya is a food deficit country. There was only a 0.1% growth in

protein from fish and livestock in 1990/2000 period compared to a 3.5% growth for the

1980/1990 period. Total maize production was estimated at 2.25 MT2 in 1999 compared

with 2.44 MT in 1998 [MPND, GoK (2002)]. And in 2004, more than 60% of crops

failed in five out of eight provinces, requiring 156,000 MT of food aid at an estimated

cost of US$76 million over six months. Factors contributing to this trend include the

ecosystem related soil degradation, drought, pollution and invasive weeds, and the

reliance on rainfed cultivation in the rural areas of the medium– to high-potential areas

that support 80% of the population [Kimalu, et. al. (2001); MENR, GoK (2002) and

UNEP/IISD (2005)].

Water supply, purification and regulation: The internal capacity of Kenya's watersheds

to capture, store and safely release water are deteriorating. Out of Kenya's 164 sub-basins

with perennial river flows, 90 will face surface water deficit by 2010 and already 33 sub-

basins without perennial river flow have noticeable water shortage. The closed canopy

moist montane forests, about three quarters of the total native forest in Kenya, provide

much of the nation's water, but are stressed. Approximately 10 million people depend

entirely on the endangered Mau forest catchments for their source of water, and Nairobi

city's water supply (Ndakaini and Sasumua dams) is linked to the degradation of forests

in the Aberdares range [UNEP/IISD (2005) and KFWG/DRSRS (2004)]. Pollution from

1 The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment was a four-year study requested by the United Nations Secretary

General in 2001 to provide an overview of the state of the global ecosystems and the consequences of

ecosystem changes on human well-being.

2 MT = metric tonnes

-4


urban and industrial waste (i.e. Lake Victoria), and pesticides and fertilizers (i.e. Lake

Naivasha) is severely deteriorating water quality [UNDP, (2001)].

Energy resources: The total energy consumed in Kenya is 12,260,000 metric TOE3, with

woodfuel accounting for 70%, followed by petroleum at 21%, and electricity the

remaining 9%. Kenya has 3,414,000 ha of forest area from which woodfuel is potentially

gathered, but woodfuel is becoming increasingly scarce as forest area declines. From

1990 to 2000, natural forest area decreased by 5%, followed by a further decrease to 3%

of total land area in 2005 [FAO, (2005); Emerton, et. al. (1998); and World Bank (2006)].

Deforestation is primarily caused by woodfuel demand for tea processing, timber felling

for domestic and export markets, agricultural production, urbanization, bushfires and

demand for fuel in urban households.

These observed downward trends are in the context of an economy that only grew by an

annual average rate of 1.5%, between 1997 and 2002, an annual rate below the

population growth estimated at 2.5% per annum for the same period, leading to a decline

in per capita incomes. The deterioration in the standard of living in Kenya is

demonstrated well by the worsening in key social indicators over the last two decades.

Illiteracy rates increased as enrolment rates in primary school declined while life

expectancy and child mortality worsened (table 1) [KDHS (2003) and MPND, GoK

(2003)]. This disappointing development has further been complicated by the upsurge of

the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Table 1: Key social indicators in Kenya

WB GenderStats - Kenya 1980 1990 1995 2003

1. Life expectancy at birth (years) 50.3 50.3 49.9 49.8

Male 54 55 47 45

Female 58 59 48 46

2. Total fertility rate (births per woman) 7.7 5.6 4.9 4.8

3. Net primary school enrolment rate

Male -74 68 66

Female -74 69 66

Source: World Bank group. www.worldbank.org

The economy however registered a GDP growth of 2.8%, 4.3% and 45.8% in 2003, 2004

and 2005 respectively, a probable indication that recent reforms that the Government has

been undertaking are beginning to bear fruit. But the fact that over half the population

live below the poverty line means that there is still a lot of room for improvement mostly

in the design and implementation of development strategies.

3 TOE = tonnes of oil equivalent.

4 Economic Survey 2006. CBS, GoK. (May 2006)

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2.3

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS IN UNDERSTANDING POVERTY AND

ENVIRONMENT LINKAGES

Conceptually, the poverty-environment framework in Kenya can be said to be addressed

through three perspectives. These are the (1) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),

(2) the World Bank's Environment Strategy (WBES,) and (3) the UNDP and UNEP

Poverty Environment Initiative.

2.3.1

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and global commitments

The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 55/199 of 20th December, 2000

called for a summit of world leaders, the World Summit for Sustainable Development

(WSSD)5 to undertake a ten-year review of progress made on the implementation of

Agenda 21, and to reinvigorate the global commitment to sustainable development.

Kenya joined 189 other countries in adopting the UN Millennium Declaration, a common

vision of development by 2015 through a number of achievable goals, dubbed the

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be reached by the year 2015. The MDGs are

composed of 8 goals to be achieved through 18 targets, over 40 indicators and 10

recommendations. The goals include:

(a) Halving extreme poverty and hunger,

(b) Achieving universal primary education,

(c) Promoting gender equality,

(d) Reducing under-five mortality by two-thirds,

(e) Reducing maternal mortality by three quarters,

(f) Reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB,

(g) Ensuring environmental sustainability, and

(h) Developing a global partnership for development, with targets for aid, trade and

debt relief.

Kenya initiated the implementation process for the MDGs in September 2002. Work on

MDGs has concentrated on conducting an analysis of the country's requirements to meet

the MDGs as an initial step to formulate a national framework through which the goals

could be achieved [GoK, UNDP (2005)].

2.3.1.1 MDGs in the Kenyan Context

Since independence, the GoK has been pursuing human development objectives. From

the Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1965 that focused on the elimination of poverty, disease

and ignorance, to the various recent policy and strategy papers geared towards achieving

5 The World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) conference was held in Johannesburg, South

Africa between August 29 and September 4 2002.

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broad-based sustainable improvement in the welfare of all Kenyans. The latter include

the National Poverty Eradication Plan (NPEP) (2000), the Poverty Reduction Strategy

Paper (PRSP) (2001) and lately the Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS), 2003-2007.

The ERS is founded on four pillars that can be matched to the MDGs. Drawing heavily

on the 2001 PRSP document, the Government Action Plan, the NARC Manifesto and the

Post-Election Action Plan (PEAP) but also reflecting its own priorities, this Strategy

identifies key policy actions necessary to spur the recovery of the Kenyan economy. It is

based on four pillars as well as five cross cutting themes reflecting the overall goals of

the Kenyan society. The four ERS pillars are:-

(a) Macro economic stability.

(b) Strengthening of institutions

of governance i.e. local government reform in

particular LATF and CDF (section 2.4.8: Democratisation)

(c) Rehabilitation and expansion of physical infrastructure.

(d) Investment in the human capital of the poor.

The five cross-cutting themes are service providing sectors which by their nature cut

across other sectors of the economy. They include:-

(a) Financial sector,

(b) Land administration,

(c) Environment and natural resources,

(d) Water and sanitation, and

(e) Information and communication technology.

The key issue for the Kenyan MDGs has therefore not been just to assess what needs to

be met within the current resource constraints, but rather what is required to scale-up

investment up to 2015 in order to achieve the goals. The MDG process has also entailed

rallying all national and international development actors and engaging the community

behind the MDGs. However, the successful implementation of these plans and strategies

should be considered in light of limitations in capacity, financing and bad governance

coupled with poor economic management. The latter led to the loss of business and

investor confidence in the last two decades, and recent measures taken to rectify this have

included the enactment of two major anti-corruption legislation: The Anti-Corruption and

Economic Crimes Act, 2003 and the Public Officer Ethics Act, 2003 [GoK, UNDP

(2005)].

2.3.1.2 Linkages between Kenya's PRSP, ERS and MDG goals

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The 6PRSP was launched by the GoK in 2001 as a short-term strategy for meeting the

long term plans outlined in the NPEP of 1999. A product of broad-based and in-depth

consultations undertaken in 70 districts of the country, the PRSP identified measures for

improved economic performance and priority actions for reduction of poverty incidence.

Agriculture and rural development were identified as the topmost national priority areas.

Though the PRSP identified specific strategies and target outputs for action, by 2003,

there was nothing much on the ground to show that the PRSP was being implemented.

Launched by the GoK in 2003, the ERS outlines the development strategy and policies

that the government plans to pursue during the period 2003 to 2007, and encompassing

an Investment Programme (IP) which provides a framework for implementing the agenda

for wealth and employment creation.

MDGs are not any different from what Kenya has been attempting to pursue since

Independence, i.e. eradicating hunger, illiteracy, decentralization and disease through

policy documents such as Sessional Paper No 1 of 1965, past Development Plans (i.e.

1980s DFRD), the PRSP and more recently the ERS. However, whereas a fair supportive

environment has been provided for certain sectors i.e. universal primary education, child

mortality, gender equality, a similar supportive environment is still lacking for

eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, ensuring environmental sustainability, and

developing a global partnership for development [Waiyaki (2005)].

The linkages between the MDGs, PRSP and poverty-environment issues for Kenya are

summarized in the table 3.

Table 2: Linkages between Kenya's PRSP, ERS and MDG goals

MDGs Examples of PRSP Components ERS Component

1. Halving extreme poverty and

hunger

Enhancing food security

Improving crops development

Improve market development

Improve livestock & fisheries

development

Creation of employment

opportunities

Legal & institutional reforms in

agriculture

Empowering resource poor

farmers

Strengthened extension services

Increasing smallholders access to

credit

Irrigation development

2. Achieving Universal primary

education

Promoting early childhood

education

Enhancing access, retention,

completion rates at the primary

level

Expanding provision of bursaries

Achieving 100 % net primary

school enrolment

Increase secondary enrolment

3. Promoting gender equality •

Enhancing educational

opportunities for the poor and

Achieving 100 % net primary

school enrolment

6 Kenya's 2000 Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP) provided a sound basis for developing

a fully participatory PRSP and for World Bank and IMF concessional assistance. The government produced

a draft PRSP in November 2002, which however was not submitted formally to the Bank and the Fund on

account of the December 2002 elections.

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underprivileged

Provision of loans and

scholarships to needy students

Creating employment

opportunities

Gender mainstreaming

Increase secondary enrolment

4. Reducing child mortality •

Implementing activities within the

essential package of health

services, with emphasis on women

& children under five.

Ensuring provision of a basic

health package to all Kenyans

5. Reducing maternal mortality

by three-quarters

Implementing activities within the

essential package of health

services, with emphasis on women

Ensuring provision of a basic

health package to all Kenyans

6. Reversing the spread of

HIV/AIDS, malaria & Other

diseases

Combating the HIV/AIDS scourge

Increase and awareness of

transmission of HIV/AIDS

As in 4 above

Reduce the prevalence of

HIV/AIDS

7. Ensuring environmental

sustainability

Viable land policy

Sustainable management and use

of forest and forest resources

Environment protection

Land administration

Water development and

management

Wildlife management

8. Developing a global

partnership for development

with targets for aid, trade and

debt relief

Promote product & market

development& competitiveness

Promote internal & external trade

Enhance domestic, regional and

international tourism

Export promotion

Tourism promotion

Macroeconomic stability

Trade policies

Improved governance

Source: Coherence between Kenya's PRSP, ERS and achievement of MDGs.

www.moreandbetter.org

2.3.1.3 Assessment of policy integration of poverty and environment

The record on the integration of poverty and environment in Kenya's public policy

making is mixed. Currently, environment is considered as a "cross-cutting" policy matter,

which is policy-speak for important enough to be included in the policy documents, but

not high up in the priority listing. On the other hand, poverty reduction or rather wealth

creation has become the high priority policy specific, with adequate resourcing and

political support [Duraiappah (2001) and MPND, GoK (2005)].

Having said this, the current situation is a setback from what prevailed 5 years ago. A

World Bank survey [Bojo, et. al. (2002)], rates Kenya's Interim PRSP (2001) relatively

well in terms of mainstreaming environment into poverty reduction through its discussion

and costing of inputs and outcomes of major environmental concerns and opportunities,

poverty-environment link analysis, response to environmental challenges, and the

participation and inclusion of environmental constituencies and voices. Out of a possible

score of 3, Kenya scores 1.9, while the 40-country average is 0.9.

Kenya's IPRSP was rated well in terms of raising, describing, costing, and proposed

monitoring of environmental issues related to energy, land and water use. It also made

concrete proposals over property rights, particularly in terms of land law and water rights.

It also presented a regulatory and legal framework for implementation environmental

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audits and environmental impact assessments through such institutions as the National

Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and the restructuring of forestry

institutions and forest management.

While NEMA is able to carry out its functions, the Water Management Act and its

institutions have been put in place, and the Forestry Bill has finally been passed, the PEI

still faces a situation in which environment is treated rather differently than poverty

reduction in terms of policy prioritization, budget allocation, political and civil society

support, and actual implementation on the ground. While there is a conscious recognition

that poverty reduction and the environment are inextricably linked, that consciousness is

yet to develop into a coherent poverty-environment policy, budget, and implementation

framework.

2.3.2 The World Bank's Environment Strategy

This framework sees the environment alleviating poverty in three ways, namely:

(a) quality of life i.e., enhancing livelihoods, reducing vulnerability and improving

health among poor people;

(b) quality of growth

i.e., improving the policy, institutional and regulatory

frameworks while supporting environmentally and socially sound private sector

led development; and

(c) quality of regional and global commons

by using local initiatives providing

immediate benefits to the poor while contributing to positive outcomes on global

matters such as climate change [Duraiappah (2001)].

This approach adopted in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers and Facilities (policy

paper and subsequent Bank credit) is growth based and focuses on overcoming market

failures, getting prices right, and devising effective institutions as the means of allocating

environmental resources (commodities and services) equitably to create income and

employment opportunities among the poor.

2.3.3 UNDP and UNEP Poverty Environment Initiative (PEI)

This is largely a sustainable livelihoods approach that highlights five policy interventions

necessary to provide the poor with the means to cope with and recover from stresses and

shocks while maintaining or enhancing their capabilities and assets without undermining

the resource base. The five policy interventions are:-

(a) access to assets;

(b) asset improvement;

(c) infrastructure and technology development;

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(d) employment and compensation for the poor; and

(e) market and planning reform [Duraiappah (2001)].

In essence, the PEI approach bears similarity to the WBES, except that in addition to

assets and activities, it introduces the concept of capabilities by the poor. The means of

creating incomes and employment under this approach goes beyond overcoming market

failures, getting prices right and devising effective institutions for equitable access and

allocation of environmental resources (commodities and services). It requires the

development and deployment of capabilities by poor households and individuals to live

through and bounce back or forward from severe stress situations within ecologically

sound practices.

2.4 ASPECTS OF POVERTY IN THE KENYA CONTEXT

Unlike the latter two frameworks, the MDGs do a better job in acknowledging that

environmental resources also provide life-supporting services to humanity, and addresses

this in its framework. These three approaches however, face severe implementation

constraints in the context of an inequitable political economy, severely depleted natural

resource base, deepening poverty, civil insecurity, HIV/AIDS, food insecurity,

globalization, and democratization.

2.4.1 Inequitable Political Economy

Recent efforts at poverty assessment and mapping in the country indicate that poverty is

inequitably distributed nationally, regionally, and within districts [Bojo, et. al (2002);

Mongabay (2006); MPND, GoK (2002) & (2003)]. 26.5 % and 62.3 % of the population is

living on less than $1 a day and less than $2 a day respectively, and the number of

income poor has increased from 3.7 million in 1972–1973 to 12.5 million in 1997, and is

currently estimated at over 17 million [MENR, GoK (2002)]. Inequality in income

distribution is high, with the bottom 20% of the population getting only 2.5% of the total

income, while the highest 20% of the population gets 59% of the total income. Other

signs of widening inequality include widening gender and regional disparities in terms of

poverty levels and access to social services and economic opportunities. The poorest

people and locations are characterized by five major commonalities:

(a) Tend to be in more arid, poorer soils, and water scarce than neighbouring better off

localities.

Three quarters of the poor live in rural areas with the majority located in the highly-

populated region stretching south to south-east from Lake Victoria to the coast,

straddling the rail and road corridors. Subsistence farming households are also most

poor in arid and semi-arid areas of the country, where women spend a great portion of

their time searching for water and woodfuel. The North Eastern and Coast provinces

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have the poorest households while Nyanza historically has the highest incidence of

poverty [UNEP/IISD, (2005)].

(b) Are populated by poorly educated communities, with low school enrolment, and very

limited female participation.

Existing literature indicates that North Eastern Province (data mainly urban) has the

lowest primary and secondary school enrolment (9.8% and 4.8%, respectively), due

mainly to poverty, remoteness, insecurity and transhumance. Coast also has low

enrolments due mainly to relatively higher poverty. Adult literacy rate is lowest in

Coast (62.8%) and North Eastern (64.2%). According to UNDP (2001) low literacy is

due to children opting out for jobs in tourism at the coast, and remoteness, insecurity

and poverty in North Eastern. In addition, while many schools in Kenya are Christian,

Coast and North Eastern provinces are dominated by Islam and fewer schools. Low Comment [BSID1]: CI: Alex has a

problem with this. I wonder whether

madrassa and mainstream curricula

clash?

literacy in Eastern and Rift Valley is due to the spill-over effects of poverty [UNDP,

(2001)].

(c)

Are poorly served by health, water and sanitation services, roads, electricity, and

other physical and social infrastructure.

Poor service provision is a feature of smaller towns as well as large cities in Kenya. It

is estimated that between 18% and 40% of residents in secondary towns (urban

settlements with between 20,000-100,000 inhabitants) live in unplanned, informal

housing developments, which lack access to basic services [UNDP, (2001)].

Estimates put rural and urban access to improved water sources at 46% and 89%

respectively. Access to improved sanitation stands at 43% and 56% for rural and

urban areas respectively [UNEP/IISD, (2005)]. Only 4% of the population living in

the rural areas have access to electricity. More than 47% of the urban dwellers live in

informal settlements and in conditions of abject poverty characterized by, among

others, unavailability of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities [MENR, GoK

(2002)].

(d) Have poorly developed and largely ineffective public, community, and private

institutions.

Virtually every social and economic indicator shows the extreme inequalities that

exist between rural and urban areas in Kenya. Although agriculture provides

employment for an estimated 75% of Kenya's labour force and about 90% of rural

incomes, it accounts for only 9% of the total private and public sector earnings in the

country [UNDP, (2001)]. In the informal sector, lack of credit information from

public registries and private bureaus continues to be a setback [IBRD/World Bank,

(2006)].

(e) Have limited links to regional, national, and global markets and opportunities.

While the poor generally cultivate more land and have more livestock than the non-

poor, the non-poor earn more than 2.5 times more income through the sale of cash

crops and 1.5 times more through livestock sales [UNDP, (2001)].

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2.4.2 Rapidly Depleting Natural Resource Base

With medium- and high-potential land catering for 75-80% of the country's population

found in the rural areas in a largely ASAL country, the poor live in localities and

neighbourhoods that are facing severe environmental stress. They may live on fragile

marginal areas where fertile top soil is easily washed away, or in drying up wetlands

prone to seasonal flooding. The need for food-crop cultivation, fuel, building materials,

and grazing, strains the vegetation around where they live, further degrading the

capabilities of the natural resource base. A look at forests, a key natural resource, shows

that 5% was lost between 1990 and 2005 [Mongabay (2006)]. A 2005 forest assessment

in the country showed a gradual decline in forested areas from 3,708,000 to 3,582,000

and 3,414,000 Ha for the years 1999, 2000 and 2005 respectively [GoK, UNDP (2005)].

This gives a current forest cover of slightly over 6% of the total land area [FAO, (2005)

and Mongabay (2006)].

Table 3: Forest resources, Kenya

Name of variable

Area ('000 Ha)

1999 2000 2005

Indigenous closed Canopy 1 240 1 190 1 165

Indigenous Mangroves 80 80 80

Open woodlands 2 150 2 100 2 075

Public Plantation Forests 170 134 119

Private Plantation forests 68 78 83

Bush-land 24 800 24 635 24 570

Grasslands 10 730 10 485 10 350

Farms with Trees 9 420 10 020 10 320

Inland water Bodies 1 123 1 123 1 123

7Total Area for country 58 037 58 037 58 037

Source: Global forest resources Assessment 2005. Kenya Country Report. FAO

A 2000-2003 study of forest cover in Kenya's main upper catchment illustrates natural

resource depletion well [KFWG/DRSRS (2004)]. Dubbed the five 'water towers' in

reference to their water catchment function, the areas include the Mau complex, Mt.

Kenya, Mt. Elgon, Cherangani Hills and the Aberdare range. Satellite mapping of the

areas showed deforestation (i.e. 7 084 Ha or 1.8% for Mau complex) and forest

destruction through illegal logging, charcoal production and cattle grazing in the

Aberdares. A similar study carried out in 1999 for the Mt. Kenya region had established

extensive illegal activities leading to serious destruction below the bamboo/bamboopodocarpus

belt [UNEP/KWS, (1999)]. It established that 14,662 indigenous trees were

cut through illegal logging, including over 6,700 Camphor (Ocotea usambarensis) trees.

Over 75 % of clear-felled plantations were not replanted with tree seedlings; despite the

7 Total area may differ with other statistics elsewhere given that UN agencies still honour internationally

disputed areas like the NW part of Kenya.

-13


encroachment from Shamba system cultivated areas (see section 2.6). Other negative

impacts were due to Marijuana cultivation (200 Ha), livestock grazing, and fires.

There is resource depletion as a consequence of urbanisation too. The proportion of total

urban population rose from 10% in 1969 to 27% in 1999 [UNEP/KWS, (1999)]. This

growth has mainly been due to rural-urban migration, natural population growth, influx

of refugees, boundary extensions for some municipalities and the creation of new urban

centres. A large portion of new residents have ended up in the three primary centres of

Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. The urban poor live in settlements characterized by

shortage of appropriate housing, inadequate water and sanitation services, deteriorating

road and transport system as well as shortage of energy supplies. The impacts thus

include wood fuel depletion, increased soil erosion and land degradation

2.4.3 HIV/AIDS

The poorest, lesser educated and most economically vulnerable members of the Kenyan

society are also the most at risk in terms of contracting and spreading HIV/AIDS. They

are also further disadvantaged in terms of having access to proper diagnostics,

counselling, treatment, and nutritional support when infected. The poor are more likely to

lose their jobs, assets, and other properties once one or both heads of household are

affected with or die from AIDS.

In general, there has been a decline in AIDS prevalence in the country. The overall adult

infection rate reduced from 10% in the late 1990s to 7% in 2003 (UNAIDS)8. Despite the

reduction, which was mainly due to awareness-creation programmes, UNAIDS estimated

that some 1.2 million Kenyans were living with the virus, of whom 100,000 were

children. Some 650,000 children had been orphaned as a result of the disease. According

to a 2003 9KDHS study, women are more likely to be HIV positive than men [Shikwati

(200?)]. From the study the national HIV prevalence was estimated at 6.7% with 8.7%

and 4.5% prevalence for women and men respectively. HIV prevalence was almost twice

as high in urban areas as in rural areas (10% and 6%, respectively). Provinces with

prevalence levels above the national average included Nyanza (14%) and Nairobi (9 %).

The lowest prevalence levels were found in the less populated Rift Valley, Western, and

Eastern Provinces, with 5.2%, 5%, and 4.1% prevalence respectively. North Eastern

Province had the lowest prevalence rate in the country at 0%.

8 KENYA: HIV/AIDS a major health issue in western region. IRIN/UN Office for Coordination of

Humanitarian Affairs. 25 November 2005. www.irinnews.org9 The 2003 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) was carried out by Central Bureau of

Statistics (CBS) from mid-April to mid-September 2003 using a nationally representative sample of

almost 9,000 households.

-14


With the perceived gender-related prevalence trends, and given that more women are

involved in natural resource activities at the grassroots, there could be implications for

the sustainability of women-led grassroots' initiatives. Clearly, the cost in terms of

human suffering, loss of labour and/or productive time, the cost to governments and

society at large of medical care, including the social cost of bringing up AIDS infected

orphaned children, is perhaps impossible to capture in quantitative terms.

2.4.4 Drought, Floods and Food Insecurity

The causes of poverty and food insecurity in Kenya include low agricultural productivity,

inadequate access to productive assets (land and capital), inadequate infrastructure,

limited well functioning markets, high population pressure on land, inadequate access to

appropriate technologies by farmers, effects of global trade and slow reform process

[IDD/DfID, (2002)]. Communities in arid and semi-arid lands of the country are

particularly vulnerable because of the recurring natural disasters of drought, livestock

diseases, animal and crop pests, and limited access to appropriate technologies. Although

Kenya generally has had an average of one drought per decade, four successive droughts

occurred between 1991 and 2000, and there was also a drought period in both 2004-2005.

While the 1999–2000 drought affected 4.2 million people and caused the death of nearly

100 people [Mongabay (2006)], the last drought resulted in food insecurity in 17 Districts

with an estimated 2.5 million people dependent on food aid10.

Without income, and facing declining crop and livestock yields, most poor households in

the affected regions are on the borderline of starvation, not because the country itself

faces a national food shortage, but because they simply cannot afford to buy the food that

is available in the markets. Their lack of purchasing power shows that famines occur,

largely because those who would starve cannot afford the food in the markets. Each

subsequent drought or flood further deepens their vulnerability, creating the real concern

that Kenya may soon have large sections of society becoming entirely dependent on relief

food and other assistance.

Slow reform and poor planning results in available resources being directed to

interventions that do not give sustainable impact. For example when North Eastern parts

of the country experienced extended drought for four consecutive seasons, the Kenya

government, UN Agencies and NGOs spent a total of 27.2 billion Kenya shillings (US

$340 million) on the provision of famine relief food to the affected 4.1 million people

from March 2000 to September 2002. Approximately 20% of the amount was spent on

food distribution and logistics. Properly planned, this amount of money would go a long

way in establishing sustainable food security measures in the country [Delvetere, et. al.

(2005)].

10 Sources: Kenya Meteorology Services (www.meteo.go.ke) and World Health Organisation (www.who.int)

-15


2.4.5 Globalization

Globalization affects the poor in Kenya in many ways. From an environment point of

view, climate change is affecting rainfall and weather patterns adversely reducing their

well-being (i.e. the El Nino phenomenon). In terms of free trade, cheaper imported foods

and consumer goods from the far East continue to replace local production, turning entire

communities into consumption oriented rather than production oriented households.

There is also an increasing demand on Kenya's natural resources for minerals, oil and

other things, e.g. Tiomin mining at the Coast province whose effect on local livelihoods

is yet to be seen. And linkages to external world trends produces disaffection with local

culture, attitudes, and opportunitiesyounger population aspiring for unattainable lifestyles and livelihoods.

– creating a disaffected and ultimately frustrated

The reform period saw an increase in employment opportunities in the informal sector, an

upward trend in employing highly skilled manpower especially in the manufacturing

sector. And despite the export promotion incentives put in place in the 1990s reforms, the

export performance has been poor [Manda (2002) and Sen (200?)]. The revival of the East

African Community, and creation of regional cooperation mechanisms e.g. COMESA11,

have been instituted with the objective of creating a unified single economic space within

which goods, services, capital and labour are able to move freely across national

frontiers.

It is also recognised that the current form of globalisation, particularly in the context of

economics and finance, draws its motive force from information and communication

technologies (ICTs). Through the new enabling liberal environment and the agency of

ICT, the so called financial globalisation poses a new threat to emerging economies,

especially if they are somewhat lacking in know-how and necessary infrastructure.

Today's globalization era is increasingly getting characterised by information and

knowledge based economies. Kenyans recognize that there is need to shift from

dependence on the agricultural (natural resource) base characterised by a weak industrial

foundation to the development and exploitation of ICTs to aid other sector of the

economy. This is evidenced by the publication of Kenya's National ICT Policy (2005)

and ICT Strategy for Economic Growth (2006) [CBS, GoK (2006)]. If we lag behind

technologically as far as ICT is concerned, there are possibilities of losing out on ICT

related jobs i.e. the increasing outsourcing of contracts to developing countries from the

West. For now thus, globalization in Kenya must be embraced in a strategic manner lest

it leads to the worsening of the poverty situation.

2.4.6 Democratization

11 The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa - promoting regional economic integration through

trade and investment. COMESA. www.comesa.int

-16

Comment [BSID2]: CI: Delete?

The 21st century has seen an acceleration of democratization in Kenya (deeply entrenched

among the poorest households as well) not only in terms of elections, but also in terms of

participation in decision-making, resource allocation, and accountability. The poorest

Kenyans are increasingly aware of their political, civil, and economic rights; they

increasingly demand to be included in decisions affecting them, and if excluded can

violently protest against such exclusions; and are increasingly demanding accountability

of their elected political leaders, their religious leaders, administrative organs, and NGOs

[IBRD/World Bank, (2006)]. This was perhaps best manifested on the 27th December

2002, when Kenyan voters rejected KANU, and its legacy of corruption, and gave the

National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) a plurality mandate in excess of 70%, ushering in a

new "corruption free" government [TI Kenya, (2006)]. This means that any interventions

for the poor must now first meet their approval, and must continually be ready to be

accountable to them for results.

Decentralized resource allocation in Kenya started during the 1980s with the adoption of

the District Focus for Rural Development (DFRD). A major shortcoming though was

ignoring the contribution of the local residents and lack of accountability as far as

projects on the ground were concerned, a mere dispersal of Central Government control

outside the national capital without tangible transfers of powers to local decision making

[FAO (1997)]. Centrally administered through the Office of the President, DFRD

established a system of district development committees that linked the district level

downwards to the divisional, locational and sub-locational levels. These committees'

paralleled and by-passed elected local area (LA) councils, with the latter only being

partially represented on the DDCs – with little say in local development matters [Kinyua

(2004)].

As a reaction to the failure of DFRD, there have been initiatives towards reforming LAs

by the GoK. Two, of particular importance include, (1) the Local Authority Transfer

Fund (LATF), and (2) the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). The architecture of

devolved governance in Kenya has been further complicated by ad hoc arrangements for

some of the key sectors such as District Roads Committees for infrastructure sector, ,

District Environment Committees for the environment, and localised committees for

HIV/AIDS and water sectors. In addition, the IP- ERS foresees the creation of a further

channel to transfer resources to the local level through the Social Action Fund (SAF).

(i.) Local Authority Transfer Fund (LATF)

Started in 1995, the Kenya Local Government Reform Programme (KLGRP) outputs

have included the introduction of the Single Business Permit and the LATF Act of

January 1998. This is a central government grant system for transferring 5% of the

personal income tax from the exchequer to the LAs meant for the improvement of local

service delivery; financial management and accountability; elimination of outstanding

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debts; and participatory planning processes at the local level. The LATF is disbursed in

three instalments within each financial year depending on individual LAs' compliance

with key criteria relating to financial reporting, service delivery and participatory

planning. A key conditionality is the submission of a Local Authority Service Delivery

Action Plan (LASDAP) – a participatory planning process for identifying and prioritizing

local development needs. In 2002, over 27,899 individuals participated in over 900

LASDAP meetings [Delvetere, et. al. (2005)]. Given that there are 174 LAs, an average

of 1,600 individuals participated in the process in each of the LAs, a relatively significant

level of citizen mobilization in the local level development process. From a MDG

perspective, the government has now directed that 20% of LATF be spent on core

poverty (MDG-related) programmes at the ward level [GoK, UNDP (2005)]. A snap

monitoring of the projects at constituency level has shown that since the release of the

first tranche in October 2004, there has been a marked improvement in the social sector

infrastructure (i.e. education, health and water), and roads and electricity in some cases.

Projects on the environment are few, for instance in 2002, CBOs in Mombasa held 9ward

level meetings involving around 400 people and prioritized projects which included

only the environmental aspects garbage collection and drainage [Ongoya & Lumallas,

(2005)].

Despite the success of the LATF reforms, LAs continue to be marginalised in the local

development process as they account for only 5% of government revenue. Moreover,

LAs lack technical capacity to assure service delivery and infrastructure development in

key areas. In addition, financial management capacity and the vulnerability of fragile

systems to fraud is a further concern in LAs. The parallel government systems of service

delivery to LAs, with some interactions and overlaps might render coherent planning and

service delivery impossible, reduce transparency and thereby increases the risk of

allocative inefficiencies and the vulnerability to fraud.

(ii.) Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

The CDF was established by the Constituency Development Fund Act of 2003. 2.5% of

all ordinary government revenue collected in every financial year is paid into the fund

and disbursed under the direction of a National Management Committee (NMC). 75% of

the total allocation is shared equitably amongst the 210 constituencies and 25% is

allocated by dividing by the national poverty index, then multiplying by each

constituency's poverty index. The CDF cycle begins with the election of an MP, who has

to constitute a Constituency Development Committee (CDC) within 30 days of a new

parliament. The CDC runs projects in the constituency, approves project proposals, and

implements them. Section 21 (1), of the Act gives MPs discretion to appoint 5 people

from the different groups at the grassroots, and to chair the committee. The CDC then

does a needs assessment study, deliberates on projects from all locations and draws up a

priority project list, both immediate and long-term. The proposals are then forwarded to

the District Projects Committee (DPC), made up of all the MPs (elected and nominated)

in the District, mayors, and chairmen of local authorities, the District Commissioner and

-18


other civil servants. The DPC then recommends the proposals to the clerk of the National

Assembly through the MP. The clerk of the National Assembly then forwards the list to

the Constituencies Fund Committee (CFC), a select committee of Parliament charged

with approving the proposals, overseeing implementation of CDF Act, and overseeing

policy framework and legislative matters. Proposals are then sent to the NMC for

approval; if approved the funds are disbursed in 2 equal tranches, although the Act

requires that there be four tranches. Funds are then released to accounts submitted by the

respective CDC, with an Authority to Incur Expenses (AIE) issued to the DDO of the

respective district by the NMC.

From an overview of CDF funding in 9 rural and 2 urban sample districts12 for the

financial year 2004/05, it is clear that few of the CDF committees are placing the

environment as a priority (Table 7). The extent of power devolution is perhaps marred by

the involvement of parliament in the implementation of what is a government programme

by parliament, and MP discretion in forming the CDF committees.

Table 4: CDF funding for environmental projects in 9 rural and 2 urban districts

CONSTITUENCIES CDF ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS (2004/5) KSH

BONDO DISTRICT

BONDO Kondido dam 400,000

RARIEDA 5 dams 3,000,000

NYANDO DISTRICT

MUHORONI School Tree Planting Project 54,275

NYANDO Nil -

NYAKACH Nil -

MAKUENI DISTRICT

MBOONI Nil -

KILOME Nil -

KAITI Earth dams 1,300,000

MAKUENI Earth dams 1,300,000

KIBWEZI Kalata kalimakoi gabion 200,000

VIHIGA DISTRICT

EMUHAYA Tea & tree nurseries (afforestation) 1,000,000

SABATIA Nil -

VIHIGA General environmental projects 500,000

HAMISI Nil -

BOMET DISTRICT

BOMET Nil -

CHEPALANGU Environmental management 100,000

SOTIK Environmental/soil conservation 1,170,000

MARAGUA DISTRICT

12 The 9 rural and 2 urban districts are referred to again in latter section to highlight poverty-environment

issues in the study. The include Kwale and Kilifi (Coast), Bondo (Lake Basin), Makueni (ASAL), Vihiga,

Bomet, Maragua and Kakamega (High potential), and Nairobi, Kibera, Pumwani, Embakasi and Dagoreti

(Urban areas).

-19


KIGUMO Nil

MARAGUA Nil

KANDARA Nil

KAKAMEGA DISTRICT

CONSTITUENCIES CDF ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS (2004/5) KSH

MALAVA Water & sanitation 1,496,464

LURAMBI Supply and protection of water resources 2,732,606

SHINYALU Nil -

IKOLOMANI Nil -

KILIFI DISTRICT

BAHARI Nil

KALOLENI -

GANZE -

NAIROBI DISTRICT

CONSTITUNCIES CDF ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS (2004/05) KSH

DAGORETTI Environmental 1,106,725

KASARANI Environmental services 1,000,000

LANGATA Nil -

WESTLANDS Nil -

MAKADARA Nil -

KAMUKUNJI Nil -

MOMBASA DISTRICT

CHANGAMWE Community garbage collection 500,000

KISAUNI Nil -

LIKONI Nil -

MVITA Mvita sanitation project 360,000

KWALE DISTRICT

MSAMBWENI Nil

MATUGA -

KINANGO -

Source: Constituency Development Fund. www.cdf.go.ke

Through Constituency Development Fund, poverty and environment challenges may be

addressed in what has the potential to become one of the most important development

initiatives in Kenya. Some of the stronger criticisms of the CDF have included, its lack of

'specific agenda' hence looking like a political unit, and various democratic deficits, key

among them the sitting MP influencing membership to CDF committees [Ongoya &

Lumallas, (2005)].

2.5

ASPECTS OF POVERTY AT THE DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY LEVEL

ANALYSIS

In this section we look at aspects of poverty at district and community levels by

considering (1) economic activities, and (2) existing/ current development plans. For it is

at the District / community level that, the life-supporting services of environmental

resources are most crucial. The three frameworks (MDGs, WB and UNDP/UNEP PEI)

-20


face severe implementation constraints in the context of high reliance on natural

resources (environment) and related resource degradation, and decentralisation

(democratisation) in particular the development plans and their implementation.

2.5.1 Natural resource-based economic activities

A synopsis of poverty-environment challenges in 9 rural and 2 urban districts with high

poverty incidences shows that, economic activities in these areas are natural resource-

based and have a direct bearing on the environment (Table 8). The complex inter-

linkages are apparent where for instance, the environmental concerns (deforestation,

encroachment, waste management, desertification, etc.) are as a result of human

activities, with the mostly negative activities as a consequence of poverty and / or lack of

service provision (need for food production, need for income, need for fuel wood,

pollution, need for forest products, etc.). Improvement of livelihoods thus must first

tackle the environment concerns at the local level as examples of success stories at the

local level show (see section 2.6).

Table 5: Poverty-environment challenges in 9 rural and 2 urban districts

COASTAL REGION

District Poverty

incidence

Natural resources Economic activities Environmental concerns

Kwale 63 % Wildlife,

Forestry, Land, and

water masses (e.g. Indian

ocean)

Agriculture,

Fishing, and Small scale

businesses

Poor farming practices (deforestation,

felling of trees, charcoal burning) Mining

and quarrying.

Kilifi 72 % Marine fisheries,

Coral reefs, associated

biodiversity and beaches,

Mangrove forests and

swamps, Dead coral rock,

Indigenous Forests, Wildlife,

limestone, gemstones and

lead.

Agriculture, Fishing,

Forestry,

Quarrying, Tourism and

Sand harvesting.

Deforestation, Charcoal burning,

overstocking, unsuitable farming practices,

poor solid waste management and waste

collection, poor liquid waste management,

industrial pollution, marine water

pollution, coral reef destruction.

LAKE BASIN REGION

District Poverty

incidence

Natural resources Economic activities Environmental concerns

Bondo 71% Lake Victoria and its fishery

resources, Rivers (Yala,

others), Quarry and gold in

limited quantities, Pockets of

indigenous forests and

Swamps.

Fisheries,

Agriculture,

Sand harvesting,

Pollution of rivers and Lake Victoria

(surface run- off from agrochemicals and

sand harvesting), Deforestation,

unsustainable sand harvesting, poor

garbage disposal, overstocking of

livestock, wetland encroachment, pollution

from Bondo fish meal industries,

ARID AND SEMI-ARID REGION

District Poverty

incidence

Natural resources Economic activities Environmental concerns

Makueni 62% Indigenous floral species,

15000 hectares of gazetted

forests and 724 km2 of

National Park, several

perennial rivers, springs and

Small scale agro-pastoral

farming, Ranching,

Un-sustainable sand exploitation,

Poor waste management in the urban

centres,

Poor quality of the Athi river water due to

upstream pollution,

-21


high potential of ground

water, Minerals (sand,

quartz, ceramic soils, pottery

soils, and limestone).

Human encroachment of water sources and

water catchment areas, Desertification.

HIGH POTENTIAL REGION

District Poverty

incidence

Natural resources Economic activities Environmental concerns

Vihiga 58% Good soils for agriculture,

Ground water potential,

Rivers, 2 gazetted forests

covering 4,160.6 Ha,

Preserved cultural forests.

Agriculture Encroachment of forest reserves and

swamps, High population, and

High poverty incidence.

Bomet 53% Gazetted forest (Chepalungu

Forest),

Three permanent rivers and

Wildlife.

Agriculture Pollution of Rivers and streams; Massive

deforestation resulting to increased soil

erosion; Encroachment of Chepalungu

natural forest; Cultivation on fragile

ecosystems (riverbanks, hilltops); Nonexistent

effluent and solid waste

management system; Residual farm

chemicals accompanied by their poor

handling, storage, and disposal.

Maragua 37% Arable land suitable for

agriculture, several rivers and

streams and vast amounts of

ground water,

Wildlife, Construction stone,

gravel, murram and clay.

95 percent of total land

area used for agriculture,

5 percent under urban

development.

Reduced land productivity; Rapid

population growth; Poverty; Stone

quarrying and sand harvesting; Soil

erosion; Reduced tree cover on farmlands;

Riverine cultivation and wetland

encroachment; Poor waste management in

urban centres.

Kakamega 63% Perennial rivers and springs,

322 Km2 of gazetted forests,

Mineral potential (gold, sand,

clay, pyrites, graphite,

molyodemites, quartz),

Ballast and stone, wetlands.

Agriculture and livestock

farming, Gold

prospecting.

Poor waste management

Forest destruction.

URBAN AREAS

District /

Division

Poverty

incidence

Natural resources Economic activities Environmental concerns

Nairobi 60% Rivers, forests, wildlife The poor residents live in

congested informal

settlements that occupy

only 5% of residential

land area where they

carry out jua kali / basic

comic activities.

These informal settlements are located in

marshy areas, next to railway lines and

near dumping sites. The high population of

poor residents has led to further

degradation of the environment.

Kibera 41% Rivers, forests, wildlife

within the national park

Agriculture, salary

employment, urban self

employed

Unplanned settlements, Over-exploitation

of ground water, Overcrowding, River

water pollution, Sewerage farming.

Pumwani 46% Nairobi River which is

heavily polluted and supports

very little if any flora and

fauna.

Residential and

commercial housing,

Trading in the formal and

informal markets, Small

scale industries, Jua kali

traders,

Shopping complexes and

other commercial

undertakings.

Indiscriminate disposal of solid waste in

water-bodies (e.g. Nairobi River) and open

land spaces; Blocked and burst sewerage

systems; Emptying of raw human waste

from pit latrines into Nairobi river;

Wastewater from homes drained in the

open; Medical waste poorly disposed in the

informal settlements; Air pollution from

motor vehicle exhaust systems and burning

of hazardous waste in the open; Oil

spillage from garages and other sources,

Noise pollution.

Dagoretti 46% Forests,

Rivers, and

Agriculture,

Jua kali trading

Informal settlements; Uncollected

garbage/poor wastes disposal; Water

-22


Wildlife pollution; Exhaust fumes from vehicles;

Informal settlements; Forest destruction;

and breakdown in sewage treatment

system.

Embakasi 42% Rivers - Athi river and Ngong

river (polluted),

Quarries

Small scale enterprises

(kiosks and jua kali);

Industrial activities

especially along

Mombasa Road; Farming

activities along Athi

river; Sewage farming

around Kayole, Njiru and

Dandora; Business

activities (petrol stations,

shopping centres); Jomo

Kenyatta International

Airport.

Poor solid waste management, Unplanned

settlements, River pollution, Burst

sewages, Sewage farming, Unrehabilitated

quarries, and Noise pollution.

Sources: District Development Plans 2002-08, Ministry of Planning and National Development;

Geographic dimensions of well-being in Kenya: where are the poor (2003). Vol. 1, CBS

2.5.2 District planning and development processes

At the District level, the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) of

1999 has established District Environment Committees (DEC) of the National

Environment Management Authority (NEMA). The DEC is an addition to the District

Development Offices and District Development Plans (DDP), and together they form an

elaborate constitution of committees meant to enhance the roles of individuals and

community-based groups, and to facilitate public participation in the decision-making

process. The DEC is chaired by the District Development Officer who is also involved in

the DDP and reporting processes. A review of district development plans and strategies

designed to address environmental-related matters, in the same districts, shows that most

of the efforts are about increased awareness, rather than income or employment

generating environmental programs and projects that would alleviate poverty. The

environmental efforts of these plans thus would have little impact in reducing poverty or

even stemming or turning the tide against environment degradation. The list below is

taken from proposed environmental issues and strategies in the District Development

Plans (2002-2008), National Development Plan 2002-2008 [MPND, GoK (2002)].

Table 6: District Development Strategies in 9 rural and 2 urban districts

DISTRICT DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PLAN STRATEGIES

Bomet •

Forest Office and County council to organize campaigns on afforestation;

District Office on Agriculture to promote agro forestry in normal extension

services;

Enhance awareness on the environment;

District Environmental Committee will reinforce the Environmental Management

and Coordination Act.

Bondo •

Establish and protect fish breeding grounds;

Ensuring that fishermen use appropriate fishing gear;

Observe breeding periods.

-23


Kwale •

Creating awareness on the Environmental Management and Coordination Act and

enforcing it;

Control the exploitation of traditional and mangrove forests;

Put in place solid waste disposal and recycling facilities;

Involve the local communities and departments in environmental monitoring and

conservation.

Maragua •

Improvement of Environmental Management and Coordination;

Sensitization of the poor communities on the value of environmental

conservation;

Implement soil conservation measures;

Establishment of tree nurseries for agro forestry;

Water harvesting.

Mombasa •

Introduction of Bacterial lagoon treatment plants;

Relocation of Kibarani dump site;

Introduction of integrated solid waste management systems (waste reduction and

recycling);

Implement and enforce the Environmental Management and Coordination Act;

District Environmental committee to prepare the District Environmental Action

Plan;

Publicising of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act;

Procurement of equipment for the District Environmental office.

Sources: District Development Plans 2002-2008, National Development Plan 2002-2008, CBS.

2.6 LESSONS LEARNED FROM COMMUNITY LEVEL INITIATIVES

In general, community level initiatives have not been widely disseminated and replicated

among the urban and rural poor communities. The examples below highlight activities of

several community based natural resource management projects. Most have positive

lessons though one shows that is also possible to get it wrong at the local level. It is

important to note that these projects have had limited coverage and impact, and the vast

majority of Kenya's rural and urban poor communities are not beneficiaries of any

sustainable environment development efforts. A key observation from the success stories

is that, local communities are able to make economic gain (earnings, dividends) from

natural resources or non-degrading alternatives to products in fragile or protected areas,

and are even able to improve their livelihoods. This would indicate that, the positive

lessons can be replicated / incorporated in planning for other local level interventions, or

even perhaps lessons learn can be used in the design of a business environment

framework for environmental economic services complete with the necessary incentives

for community level businesses.

2.6.1 Local Ownership – Positive Lessons

2.6.1.1 Rangeland Conservation

The Il Ngwesi Lodge, a community wildlife conservation project, is an example of a

successful CBO enterprise that has inspired a number of similar ventures throughout

-24

Comment [BSID3]: CI: I reorganised

these lines to form the link with section

4.4

Kenya. Ngwesi is a 12-bed luxury lodge surrounded by an 8,700 hectare conservation

area. The conservation area, called Il Ngwesi Group Ranch, was previously overgrazed

and badly degraded.13 Today, cattle are prohibited except during severe drought. From

the lodge, visitors can spot elephant, buffalo, bushbuck, kudu and the occasional big cat.

In exchange for maintaining the conservation area, the 448 registered households in the

CBO receive multiple financial and social benefits. Earnings from the lodge are dispersed

as wages to employees and as dividends to members. About 50 community members

work at the lodge. For these workers and their families, wages are secure and consistent.

This project was launched with the assistance of USAID's Conservation of Biodiverse

Resource Areas Project (COBRA) in 1996.

2.6.1.2 Integrated Market Development Initiative for Mango

The 14 Kenya Gatsby Trust (KGT) is collaborating with the Malindi District Agriculture

Office, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Mtwapa), ICIPE, Bayer Crop Science &

Organic Solutions among other partners for mango production in the Kenyan Coast.

Rural poor communities have for many years harvested the fruit without much attention

to good crop husbandry. Due to the aging trees and effects of pests and diseases, the

quality and quantity of mango production has been on the decline in the recent years

impacting negatively on the livelihoods of these rural poor communities. This initiative is

designed to facilitate improvement in the production and marketing of quality mangoes

through stimulation of demand and supply of essential quality assurance services

including private extension services, farm input supplies, setting up collection centres and

new market linkages. The pilot is concentrated in Malindi and Magarini Divisions of

Malindi District involving 13 farmer groups with membership of 253 and 26 private

extension service providers. Thirteen demonstration sites have been set up, a system of

farm input supplies put in place with a credit component, private extension manual

developed among other capacity building elements. New market linkages have also been

achieved resulting to price increase from between Kshs. 2 - 3 to between Kshs. 6 - 10 per

mango.

2.6.1.3 Ecotourism

One of the more successful marine community based projects is the Wasini Island

Women's Group Coral Garden Boardwalk. This project has drastically improved the

livelihood of the women in Wasini Island. It is the women in the group who manage the

boardwalk and take responsibility for repairs. The proceeds from the project are shared

among them and some of it is used for education. Conservation of the mangrove forest

has served to minimize cutting of mangroves for fuel. The boardwalk, which was

completed in 2001, was funded through the KWS wetlands program and IUCN EARO.15

13 Il Ngwesi lodge. Linking business and nature, Laikipia, Kenya. www.usaid.gov

14 Kenya Gatsby Trust (2005) www.kenyagatsby.org

15The success story of Wasini women's group coral garden boardwalk www.pactworld.org

-25

Comment [BSID4]: CI replaced a

KGT conservation with an agricultural

one for balance as per AF commnets


The group has received training in governance and leadership as well as basic financial

management through CORE. The day to day mentoring is provided by KWS. Tourists

who visit Wasini are charged a small fee of Kshs. 100 ($1.25) to walk on the boardwalk.

2.6.1.4 Wetlands Conservation

Wetlands are also important areas for community based initiatives, an example being the

Kenya Community Based Wetlands Conservation Project that covers two wetlands,

Saiwa Swamp National Park (SNP) and Lake Bogoria National Reserve (LBNR). It uses

community participation approach to address several problems identified through field

based research. These problems include lack of conservation awareness among the

resident communities, soil erosion, water abstraction from the wetlands and general

poverty.16 The project provides alternative sources of the resources enclosed in the

protected areas e.g. farm woodlots and water wells. It also encourages economic and

social development projects for the communities neighbouring the two wetlands through

initiating and supporting income generating activities e.g. fisheries, traditional artefacts,

beekeeping and poultry production. It also sensitizes communities through environmental

education and creation of public awareness through environmental extension,

environmental shows and wetland rallies.

2.6.1.5 Integrated Urban Environmental Management

Among programmes targeting the urban poor is the Malindi Green Town Movement17

which was formed to introduce sustainable integrated environmental management in

urban development to achieve a healthy and clean environment in Malindi. This project

targets the urban poor residents of Malindi Town and District at large. Community

ownership of the programme is a key component of the project. The project has greatly

improved the community's livelihood and built good governance capacity in the Malindi

Town Council. The project's environmental conservation activities complement the local

council's own efforts ".

The achievements of this project include the fact that women's' groups now collect

plastic bags and crotchet them into useful items like hats and bags; the project provided

clean drinking water in order to reduce the prevalence of water borne diseases and

negotiated with the council for lower water rates; and technical assistance to the council

to develop environmental by-laws.

Significantly, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Malindi Green

Town and the Malindi Town Council that spelt out the rights, responsibilities and

obligations of each party in solid waste management following which village committees

were then created to organize youths to collect solid waste at a fee and deposit at 19

waste chambers constructed at central points for collection of solid waste. The Council

then collects the waste and transfers it to the main Malindi dumpsite. The youth now

16 Community based wetlands conservation (WWF) www.panda.org

17 Malindi Green Town Movement www.innovations.harvard.edu

-26


make compost manure from biodegradable material and have started a horticultural

garden that grows food and plant seedlings. The excess compost manure is sold to local

farmers. Lastly, the Watamu Dump site, which was in the middle of a residential estate,

was rehabilitated and turned into a Green Town Park -the dumpsite was relocated

elsewhere.

2.6.1.6 Community Management and Conservation of Protected Areas

A more locality specific programme is the UNDP Community Management of Protected

Areas Conservation (COMPACT)18 project whose main purpose is to work with NGOs

and communities living around Mt Kenya in contributing to the conservation and

preservation of the Mt Kenya World Heritage Site, its biological diversity and cultural

significance for future generations. By 2004, 14 projects were already under way [GIN,

Harvard University, (2006)], seeking to address some of the threats and challenges that

plague the mountain. These include - Mt. Kenya Eco-Resource Centre, Bee-keeping and

Forest Conservation, Community Participation in the Mt. Kenya Management Plan, Solar

Fence for Mt. Kenya East, Combining Energy Efficient Stoves and Woodlots in Schools,

Conservation and Management of Traditional Sacred Groves and Sites, Reduction of

garbage dumping in the forest, Documentation and Monitoring of COMPACT projects,

Women groups to raise indigenous tree seedlings, Working with the Municipality to stop

solid waste dumping in the forest, Community to rehabilitate a crater lake and develop

an ecotourism venture around it, Involving Wildlife clubs in schools for planting

indigenous trees in the Mt Kenya forests, Raising Awareness on the Mountain Bongo It's

Repatriation and Introduction to Mt. Kenya, Community Tissue Culture banana nurseries

for Mt. Kenya region, Baraani Micro Hydro Power Project, Community training for

forest fire fighting in Mt. Kenya area, Sericulture & indigenous tree planting around Mt.

Kenya World Heritage Site, Expansion of Community Trout farming in Magacha area of

Mount Kenya, and Sagana Fish farming project.

2.6.2. Local Ownership – Negative Lessons

2.6.2.1 Non-Resident Cultivation (Shamba) System

One of the most controversial NRM initiatives, the Shamba system was an important

arrangement which was meant to enhance and sustain the food security of landless

peasants. The system was discontinued in 1986 chiefly due to an expanded human

population whose demand for forest land allocation exceeded the initial Forest

Department objective of plantation establishment. Illegal activities such as forest

clearing, tree poaching and illegal hunting from the resident cultivators and their families

jeopardised forest protection and management. After the Shamba system was stopped,

communities living around the forest moved in and settled in areas that were cleared.

Forest degradation has escalated as they do not use indigenous forest management

knowledge [Obare & Wangwe (1998)]. In spite of the well intended efforts, forest

18 Community approach to the rehabilitation of Mt. Kenya world heritage site www.ke.undp.org

-27


degradation and depletion has continued. It is now to be reintroduced following the

passage of the new Forests Act.

However, not all community based forestry efforts are controversial. Conceding that the

command and control approach to forest management has failed, the Forest Department

and the Kenya Wildlife Service have designed various measures in form of incentives to

enhance community participation in the Kakamega Forest resource management. The

major aims of involving the community in forest conservation are to regulate the forest

use and to develop alternatives to forest utilization. The Forest Department has been

involved in issuing free seedlings, promotion of zero grazing and other activities to divert

pressure on the forest [Mogaka, et. al. (2001)].

2.6.3 Government Interventions – Mixed Lessons?

2.6.3.1 GoK ASAL Initiatives and Agriculture and rural development (ARD) Activities

With approximately 80% of Kenya's total land classified as arid or semi-arid (ASAL), it

is also imperative that government efforts, initiatives and programs under the sector are

considered. Whereas detailed information from communities is not available, a brief

chronology of overall government policy on ASALs and past initiatives is given below.

Most of the projects and programs have been implemented in collaboration with

development partners i.e. IFAD, World Bank, IDA, NGOs, research institutions, etc.

..The Government attempted to introduce integrated Rural Development Programmes

in the country under the Special Rural Development Programmes (SRDPs) of 1968 –

1972. Although the focus was not on ASAL areas, some ASAL districts were

covered.

..The Kenya Livestock Development Programme of 1969 – 1979 developed several

grazing blocks in northern Kenya and group ranches in southern rangelands with the

Comment [BSID5]: CI: Does this

look like a good tile for the section?

aim of transforming pastoralists into commercial ranchers.

..In 1977, an ASAL Development Branch was established in the Ministry of

Agriculture for coordination of program and project implementation.

..During the 1980s, second generation Integrated ASAL Development Programmes

coordinated by the Ministry of Planning and National Development were introduced

to address development needs in ASAL areas.

..In 1986, the Government produced a Sessional Paper No. 1 on Economic

Management for Renewed Growth, which acknowledged that ASALs have fragile

environments and hence they need to manage ASAL development carefully in order

..In 1989, the Government created a Ministry of Reclamation and Development of

to improve income generation, employment creation, and food self-sufficiency goals.

Arid and Semi Arid areas and Wastelands to give greater attention to the

development of dry lands and provide coordination for implementation of ASAL

programmes.

-28


..Since 1998, the Government has retained the Department of Land Reclamation and ..Since 1998, the Government has retained the Department of Land Reclamation and

ASAL development but some of its functions have been scattered across various

ministries.

..In 1992, draft ASAL Development Policy was developed to address intergraded

..From 1996 to date the *Arid Lands Resource Management Project has been in

ASAL development issues holistically.

operation. Its aim is to strengthen drought and natural resource management and

development in 22 ASAL districts.

..Other policy initiatives and strategic plans for ASAL development have been

highlighted in various National Development plans, strategic plans, and policies such

as:- the 1989-93 National Development Plan; the 1983 District focus for Rural

Development; National Poverty Eradication Plan (NPEP), 1999 – 2015; Poverty

Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), 2002; Kenya Rural Development Strategy Paper

(KRDSP), 2003; ASAL Development Master Plan, 2002; Economic Recovery

Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (ERS), 2003-2007; among others.

Sample GoK project: The *Arid Lands Resource Management Project

The project runs a community early warning system alongside community-driven

development activities centred on livestock and non-livestock income-generating

activities in 11 arid districts (phase I) and 11 semi-arid districts (phase II) of Kenya. With

the development objective of reducing chronic poverty and enhancing food security in the

arid lands, the project was also meant to enable participating line government ministries

to adapt their service delivery systems to the arid land populations. With an overall 3-

pronged approach, project activities have targeted drought management, livestock

marketing, and community development.

Under drought management activities have included the operation of an early warning

system, preparation of drought strategic and contingency planning, and response; the

development of water sources; small-scale agricultural schemes; emergency livestock

vaccinations; and purchase and construction of emergency animal and human health

infrastructures. Additionally, GoK and donor agencies spent 28 billion Kenyan shillings

on food and non-food items to combat drought emergency during the 2000-2001 period.

activities; apiculture; and emergency livestock off-take. At the height of the 2000-2001

drought, livestock worth 10 million Kenyan shillings were saved or salvaged.

Also undertaken so far under livestock marketing is the development of strategic

livestock handling facilities; training of livestock marketing groups; animal health

Community development activities have included capacity building for community

groups; implementation of diversified livelihood micro-projects; policy advocacy; and

lobbying to enable the environment for pastoral policy development.

-29


19Recent (ongoing) projects include the Kenya Agriculture Productivity project (KAPP),

the ASAL based Livestock Rural Support project, and the Natural Agriculture and

19Recent (ongoing) projects include the Kenya Agriculture Productivity project (KAPP),

the ASAL based Livestock Rural Support project, and the Natural Agriculture and

Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP).

While no detailed information at community level was available, in general

documentation on the implementation of policies, strategic plans, programs, and projects

indicates that these activities have provided useful lessons for development of ASALs.

Some of the key lessons learnt have included:

..Top-down development approach and lack of community ownership of projects,

..Inadequate technological base for ASAL development,

..Development efforts were hindered by dispersed, migratory populations which have

high illiteracy levels,

..Poor coordination among development partners and the implementing agencies,

..Involvement of beneficiary communities was necessary for project success and that

integrated approach was the most suitable for ASAL district based programs.

sectoral basis without effective coordination.

..In addition, it was apparent that ASAL programs were being implemented on

2.7 THE TRIAD OF POVERTY, ENVIRONMENT AND CHILD HEALTH

Whereas during the first three decades after independence (1960-1992) there was

substantial progress in health services delivery in the country, the situation has changed

in recent years following budgetary constraints partly due to reduced donor support, and

to poor governance. The government then focused on free health care, especially for

infants, children and mothers [MPND, GoK (2003)]. Both government and donors

supported immunisation, hospital supplies and equipment projects. The situation has

changed in recent years, as childhood mortality rates, good basic indicators of a country's

socio-economic level and quality of life, show. Between 1992 and 1998, infant mortality

increased from 51 to 71 (74 rural, 55 urban), and under-five mortality also increased

from 74 to 105 (109 rural, 88 urban) deaths per 1000 [UNDP, (2001)].

The magnitude of the challenges related to sustainable livelihoods can be summarized

from the results of a socio-demographic survey using in-depth interviews and focus group

discussion conducted in four informal settlements in Nairobi in 2002 to explore the

community members' expression and understanding of the linkages between poverty,

poor environments, and childhood illness [Amuyunzu-Nyamongo, et. al. (2004)]. The

community members identified respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea, malaria, skin

problems and malnutrition as five leading illness among children aged under-5 years.

19 From Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development. www.livestock.go.ke

-30

Comment [BSID6]: CI: reaction to

AF comment "need examples from the

agriculture and rural development sector.

currently too much emphasis on

conservation orientated initiatives"


These were linked to lack of adequate and clean water, unsafe waste disposal systems,

lack of adequate and nutritious food, and air pollution.

These urban dwellers lived in unhygienic environments characterized by poor drainage

systems, virtually no sanitation, piles of uncollected rubbish, crowded and dirty housing,

and acute poverty and insecurity. This is because the settlements surveyed were illegal,

and thus do not receive public services such as water, drains, sewerage and rubbish

collection, and policing. Despite the fact that 40% of world deaths can be attributed to

various environmental factors, and the urban poor contribute disproportionately to this

figure, in Kenya as in many developing countries, new migrants from rural areas

gravitate towards these informal settlements. In Kenya and Africa, the rapid urbanization

of these societies indicates that we will continue to see more of such misery and death

from poverty and poor environmental conditions in the coming years.

-31


3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

"Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens, at

the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to

information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including

information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the

opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facilitate and

encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available.

Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings including redress and remedy

shall be provided" – Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration.

3.1 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

The Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA) No. 8 of 1999 is the

Act of Parliament that provides for the establishment of an appropriate legal and

institutional framework for the management of the environment. Prior to its enactment in

1999, there was no framework environmental legislation. It is the Act that provides for

the establishment of the current legal and institutional framework for the management of

the environment in Kenya. At the national level, environmental governance institutional

framework is summed up in the three bodies, the National Environment Management

Authority (NEMA), the Public Complaints Committee, and the National Environmental

Tribunal.

3.1.1 National Environment Management Authority

The Environmental Management and Coordination Act, which is the umbrella legislation

for environmental management has established the National Environment Management

Authority (NEMA) as the implementing agency. The main function for NEMA is to

coordinate and supervise the various environmental management activities being

undertaken by sectoral agencies and to be responsible for the implementation of all

policies relating to environment. NEMA also provides the secretariat for the National

Environment Council (NEC), the main entity responsible for the setting of environmental

policy. The NEC is chaired by the Minister, Ministry of Environment and Natural

Resources (MENR) and is the main entity responsible for the setting up of environmental

policy, including the domestication of international environmental law. To monitor

environmental performance, NEMA is obligated to prepare and submit a State of

Environment (SoE) report to Parliament every year. Since NEMA's inception in 2002, no

SoE has been made available to members of the public. At the grassroots level, NEMA

acts through decentralized entities especially the Provincial and District Environment

Committees (PEC and DEC).

-32


3.1.2 Public Complaints Committee

The Public Complaints Committee (PCC) although a committee of the Authority, is a

quasi-judicial tribunal with powers to investigate any allegations or complaints against

any person or against the Authority in relation to the condition of the environment in

Kenya. Also, PCC has powers on its own motion to investigate any case of environmental

degradation. The effect of this is that PCC is a collegiate specialized environmental

ombudsman. PCC is a public watchdog. In this regard, therefore, the PCC is empowered

to make recommendations for certain corrective measures to be taken and seeks solutions

to problems via investigation and conciliation, which shall form part of the annual State

of Environment (SoE). Generally, ombudsman offices deal with all manner of public

grievances directed at all public institutions. The composition of PCC is broad and well

balanced in terms of varied interests, technical and legal expertise. Unfortunately, the

PCC has not lived to its tasks and it has proven ineffective in reaching the public as well

as making implementable corrective actions and solutions to environmental problems.

3.1.3 National Environment Tribunal

The National Environment Tribunal (NET) is a quasi-judicial tribunal with jurisdiction to

hear appeals from parties aggrieved by decisions of the Director General, the Authority or

its Committees. In addition, NET may be requested by the authority to provide direction

on a matter that involve a point of law or is of unusual importance or complexity. This is

a complementary function that puts expertise within NET at the disposal of the Authority.

Unlike PCC, the enabling legislation empowers the Minister to set up such other tribunals

in any part of Kenya. This is intended to decentralize the services provided by NET.

Unfortunately, neither NET is functioning effectively nor has such other tribunals been

established at the grassroots level. In order to make the NET and other tribunal more

effective, it is that (i.) NETs jurisdiction be expanded to allow it to hear any

environmental disputes in addition to appeals; and (ii) other tribunals should be

established to address environmental – related disputes in different parts of Kenya.

3.2 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AT THE DECENTRALIZED LEVELS

At the decentralised levels, environmental governance institutional framework is summed

up in the three bodies, the Provincial Environment Committee (PEC), the District

Environment Committee (DEC), and community governance structures.

3.2.1 Provincial Environment Committee

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The Provincial Environment Committee (PEC) is a committee of the Authority

responsible for the proper management of the environment within the province. Thus,

PEC has the responsibility of ensuring that environment and natural resources

traversing/shared between districts are properly managed. The composition of the

committee is designed to ensure that various stakeholder interests are represented. For

example, the non public officers on the committee include representatives of farmers (2);

business community (2); and NGOs (2). The challenge is that there are no mechanisms

and facilities for enabling the public and communities to participating in selection of the

non-public officer's representatives to sit on PEC as well as the overall PECs decision

making processes.

3.2.2 District Environment Committee

The District Environment Committee (DEC) is a committee of the Authority responsible

for the proper management of the environment within the specified district. The

composition of the committee is designed to ensure that various stakeholder interests are

represented. For example, the non public officers on the committee include

representatives of farmers, women, youth and pastoralists (4); business community (2);

NGOs (2) and CBOs (2). The challenge is that there are no mechanisms and facilities for

enabling the public and communities to participating in selection of the non-public

officer's representatives to sit on DEC as well as the overall DECs decision making

processes.

3.2.3 Grassroots (community) governance structures

Under the Constitution and the Trust Land Act, the County Councils are supposed to hold

land in trust for the people ordinarily resident in the area. The local residents in turn own

the land in accordance with the applicable customary law [Min. Lands, GoK (2005)].

Community natural resource management instruments revolve around land ownership /

tenure. Institutional arrangements include instruments for defining and enforcing property

rights including social customs, beliefs or attitudes. These determine legitimacy and

recognition of user, transfer, exclusion and enforcement rights [FAO (1997)]. Under

communal tenure, exclusive rights are assigned to a group for communal use and policing

based on some tradition as in the 'Kayas' in the coastal region. Sustainable use of natural

resources (water, forests, pasture) would then work as the community would practice

good use based on a common belief. On average, most institutional arrangements need

reinforcement on the gender aspect, and with formal education increasingly reaching

more communities, customary law is slowly loosing popularity with the younger

generation.

The trust land system has been widely abused by the County Councils and the Central

Government. Instead of acting as the custodians of the land, the councils have facilitated

-34


the alienation of such land in favour of individuals and institutions in total disregard of

the rights of the local residents. On a general scale there has been a systematic breakdown

in land administration and delivery procedures through-out the country over time. The

over centralization of land administration and lack of participation by communities in the

governance and management of land and other natural resources has resulted in

confusion, conflict and environmental degradation, especially in communal/trust land

areas.

In recognition of these, initiatives like Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRA), can

reinforce existing community governance, by helping in mobilizing their human and

natural resources to define problems, consider previous successes, evaluate local

institutional capacities, prioritize opportunities and prepare a systematic and site specific

plan of action - a community environment and resource management plan (CERMP),

implemented and monitored at community level. PRA is an excellent tool to bring

together development needs defined by community groups on one hand and on the other

hand resources and technical skills of government, donor agencies and non-governmental

organizations. Communities are increasingly getting organized into semi-formal CBOs.

These CBOs form linkages between government institutions and civil society via

representation in DEC for instance.

3.3 BETTER INFORMED AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

3.3.1 Access to Information

Because of the urgency and scope of poverty and environment-related issues, there is a

broad consensus supporting better information. It is generally agreed that such

information is necessary to support decisions on how to address these challenges.

Unfortunately, the current Constitution of the Republic of Kenya does not guarantee the

right of the public to information. The Environmental Management and Coordination

Act, 1999 has special provisions for public access to environmental information. This is

however, at the discretion of the Authority and upon payment of prescribed fees, most of

which is beyond the means of the majority of the rural poor to afford. In this regard,

therefore, the decentralized entities such as the DEC lacks appropriate mechanisms to

facilitate communities to access environmental information necessary for informed

decision-making processes at the grassroots level.

(i) The State of the environment report: The information provided by NEMA about

environmental performance is weak. This state of affair is a result, in large part, of the

lacklustre reporting systems currently in place. For example, the state of the environment

reports take disaggregated facts about the environment and integrates them into a

coherent whole. They summarize environmental trends over a given geographic region

over a set period of time. One of the main benefits of the state of environment report is

the provision of comprehensive information about the environment, which is typically

-35

Comment [AF7]: Is this correct to

make reference to under community

participation? I don't see communities

getting access to the State of the

Environment report. More appropriate

is for District planning processes to make

available information and to engage with

communities in assessment and planning

as part of the District Environment

Action Plan and the District Development

Plan process.


collected by many different institutions within and outside government. Access to such

sweeping overviews can inform citizens of wide-ranging environmental problems

currently facing the country, from which using scenario development different policy

options could be recommended. Thus, the state of environment report can be crucial

sources of information for citizens, yet although state of environment reports have been

compiled and published for the past two, they have not been made available to the public.

State of the environment reports represent one information type that is explicitly

mentioned under the active information provision guidelines of the Aarhus Convention.

(ii) Environmental impact/audit reports: Though NEMA receives the environmental

impact assessment reports, these reports are rarely available to the public. Furthermore,

NEMA requires all industrial undertakings to report through an annual audit report on

their compliance with environmental requirements. Such reports are required to provide

important information about whether facilities are obeying the environmental

requirements as set out by the EMCA. This information ought to be made available in

simple, non-technical prose so that anyone can obtain and use this information for

different purposes. In addition, people can write to specific government agencies to

request for information not disseminated to the public. These requests ought to be

answered promptly and consistently. Collectively, legal requirements for public access to

environmental impact/audit reports on environmental compliance are weak. In this

regard, therefore, it can be said that the legal framework does not make the actors

accountable to the public for the environmental effects associated with their operations.

3.3.2 Effective community participation

Assessing public participation at decentralized level, one cannot fail to see that there are

no explicit guarantees of participation in decision-making. The legal framework provide

limited support for participation, either because they limit the decisions to which public

participation provisions apply or guarantee participation only late in decision-making

cycles. Given the weakness of legal provisions for participation, practice can also be

expected to be weak or at best, intermediate. Furthermore, there are no common

standards for participation in sectoral policy-making and planning processes.

Thus, the quality of participation as measured by decentralized entities to involve the

public in decision-making – is inconsistent. Consultation is often limited, and

participation tends to occur late in decision making stages, when parameters have already

been defined. Decentralized entities hardly promote participation in setting the

parameters of a public debate or in ensuring continued participation after development

has been approved or a policy implementation. For example implementation of EIA

public participation requirements is generally weak with regard to accessibility in

communicating to affected communities. EIAs are approved by a committee on the basis

of completed EIA reports in which case, there is generally little participation at the

scoping stage, the monitoring stage and the renewal stage. Consequently, opportunities

-36

Comment [MSOffice8]: SAM DO

YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD

ON DISTRICT PLANNING OFFICE /

THE DISTRICT PLANNING

PROCESSES, & REVISIONS OF

WHAT AF IS CALLING 'THE

GREEN BOOK"?


for the public to the scope or parameters are generally absent. Furthermore, EIA reports

are hardly produced in local dialects or in formats accessible to populations with low

levels of literacy or limited education. In such cases, consultation requires an investment

in explaining the EIA process and its purpose to ensure meaningful participation.

Something that is never done.

Another consistent pattern observed involving EIAs is weak performance in monitoring

the implementation of EIA licence conditions and environmental audits. Few have

decommissioning and remediation plans. Furthermore, public participation in review of

environmental audits is absent. A possible reason for this gap is that implementing and

monitoring mitigation measures contained in the EIA are perceived by the regulatory

agency and project proponent to be their responsibility.

3.3.3 Improved accountability and dispute resolution

Giving the public the opportunity to use judicial, administrative or other mechanisms of

dispute resolution ensures that the responsible agencies are kept accountable. The public

can pursue access to justice only if it is clear who is responsible, what information should

be disclosed and how, and for what decisions public notice and comment are mandatory.

The more inclusive and clear the interpretation of such concepts as "the public," "the

public interest," and "environmental information," the clearer the responsibilities of

government agencies. There are number of factors that determine whether people can

access the mechanisms for redress. These include:

(i)

Legal guarantees and provisions for access to information and participation: On

the whole, legislation governing access to environmental information is strong,

whereas legislation governing public participation in decision-making is less

developed. Given this state of affairs, it is likely that citizens seeking judicial

redress in connection with access to information legislation would fair better than

those seeking redress in connection with access to participation legislation.

(ii)

Enabling conditions for access to justice: the enabling conditions for access to

justice can be broken down into three broad categories – the legal and regulatory

framework, the institutional infrastructure and the affordability of justice.

(a) Legal and regulatory framework supporting enforcement: the effectiveness of

laws guaranteeing access often hinge on those specific provisions or

interpretations that support their implementation and enforcement. The EMCA

has provisions relating to access to environmental information but leaves the

decision to grant such information to the discretion of the Authority. Given that

there is lack of clarity and guidance on the question of access to environmental

information, makes the law ineffectual and also limits the public's ability to

seek justice for a government's refusal to disclose information. The EMCA is

very clear on the question of standing. The liberalization of standing has opened

opportunities for environmental or community groups to initiate lawsuits or

contest environmental decisions in public interest.

-37


(b) Institutional infrastructure: No administrative review processes exist or are

accessible at the district level. Such quasi-judicial committee, Public

Complaints Committee (PCC), only operates at the national level. Furthermore,

the public are increasingly not using PCC because they consider it ineffective.

The situation is even worse with respect to the National Environment Tribunal,

which has restrictive mandate and whose jurisdiction forbids parties who are not

party to the decision from challenging it.

(c) The affordability of justice: Administrative and court fees and litigation costs

can be a barrier to access to justice by the general public. The costs of legal

representation are prohibitively high for the general public. As a result, many

citizens rely on pro bono representation. Because most pro bono lawyers are

concentrated in urban centres especially Nairobi and Mombasa, such legal

representation is either not available or not easily accessible to many citizens.

3.4 OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNANCE INSTITUTIONS

3.4.1 Establishment of electronic reporting mechanisms

A promising opportunity in seeking to guarantee access to environmental impact/audit

reports and related information is the establishment of electronic reporting mechanisms.

Such mechanisms will assist in channelling this category of environmental information to

the public. Furthermore, when environmental-related information is scattered in different

forms, and lacking in consistency, the need for standardized electronic reporting and

databases becomes clear.

3.4.2 Capacity for Public Participation

Investment in Capacity Building

Capacity development is an investment for the future. But, as a cynic once said, the future

is not what it used to be. Thus, capacity development programmes need to be guided by

informed scenarios of what society will require in skills and technologies not only for

turning ideas on their heads, but also leaping the generation gap or more hence, rather

than responding to the needs experienced in the past decades. In this regard, investment is

needed to build the capacity of both the bureaucrats and the public so that the public

participation system can work for better environmental outcomes.

(i)

Building the capacity of the Government Institutions: the capacity building of

bureaucrats include such factors as knowledgeable public officials and robust

infrastructure. Such infrastructure includes hardware (such as computer technology)

as well as software (processes to generate, manage and provide information and to

engage the public in decisions). Establishing a clear set of government procedures

-38


and practices is also essential to guide public officials on how to respond to requests

or engage the public in decision-making.

As discussed elsewhere, provisions relating to access to environmental information and

commitments to public participation are relatively new components of Kenya's legal

system. One of the first steps in building government capacity and infrastructure,

therefore, is to make sure that civil servants know that these provisions exist, why they

are important, and how to implement them.

(ii) Supportive environment for public participation: meaningful public participation is

not solely an outcome of government investment. A variety of social actors can

influence the way national public participation systems work. Two of these actors –

NGOs and the media – play critical roles through supporting, informing or generating

demand by the public and stimulating the provision of information and participation

by the government.

(a) Supportive environment for NGOs: an environment favourable to the activities of

NGOs and independent experts willing and able to promote public participation

and offer assistance to individuals and groups is indispensable for an effective

public participation system. NGOs can build the capacity of the public by raising

awareness and providing environmental education. They can generate information

or integrate previously fragmented information and make it easier to use. As a

link between community and government, they can organize (or inform) the

public for meaningful participation, represent the public interest in court and

perform a variety of other roles and services that build capacity and generate both

demand and supply. To perform such tasks, NGOs need favourable conditions for

operation.

(b) The Media: the media are a powerful factor in generating both supply and demand

for information, participation and justice. Media scrutiny can push the

government to disclose information, consult the public on some decisions,

identify public preferences for certain options and hold both public and private

actors accountable for their environmental performance. By attracting attention,

the media spur better performance by the government. Various forms of media

can reach incredibly large swaths of the population – rich and poor, people living

in urban centres and rural communities – and instantly mobilize public opinion.

Reports and articles in the media can educate, alert or mislead.

3.4.3 Strengthening cross-sectoral linkages

As seen from the review of development plan strategies designed to address

environmental-related matters in the sample districts, income or employment generating

environmental programs and projects that would alleviate poverty are essential but not

sufficiently catered for. There are several opportunities that exist to improve on the

institutional framework on environmental conservation if there was better coordination

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and information exchange between NEMA, CDF Committees, environmental NGOs,

Universities and Government agencies such as Kenya Wildlife Services, Kenya Forestry

Research Institute, and other line ministries i.e. the key Ministry of Planning and National

Development (MPND), Ministry of Water, and keys sectoral agencies like the

Agriculture and Rural Development. Indeed, one pre-NEMC Act (1999) survey listed

institutional, legislative and policy failures as cause of environmental-economic issues

across sectors touching on the environment in Kenya (table 7) [Emerton, et. al. (1998)].

In all cases, the commonality is lack of consideration of environmental issues / standards

in the sector-based policy formulation.

Table 7: Root causes of environmental economic issues and policy responses in Kenya

Root causes: Wildlife Forests Land, Water and

Agriculture

Energy, Industry and

Infrastructure

Addressed within

policy reforms?

Institutional Low revenues from Low budget allocations, Over-regulation of Low expenditure on YES

Failures wildlife, state monopoly

on wildlife

ownership, difficulties

in policing

inefficient forest

management, difficulty

in policing and

protection, lack of

financial sustainability in

forestry operations,

overregulation of

plantations sector, state

monopoly on large forest

management

input and output

marketing, inadequate

extension of sustainable

land management

practices

maintenance and basic

services, lack of

financial sustainability

Gradual devolution of

state's role, increasing

role of private and nongovernmental

sector in

environmental

management

Legislative Lack of private rights Lack of private rights to Lack of land manag-Lack of pollution and YES

Failures to use and manage

wildlife, poor

regulatory framework

for wildlife-damaging

activities

use and manage forests

and trees, lack of enforceeable

controls on

unsustainable forest use,

lack of forestry standards,

poor revenue

systems

ement standards, lack

of air, land and water

quality standards

environmental quality

standards, lack of EIA

requirements, poor

planning requirements

Imposition of standards,

controls and regulations,

provision for their

enforcement, penalties

for their transgression

Policy Implicit taxes on Subsidies to competing Lack of consideration Lack of consideration YES

Failures wildlife and subsidies

to competing agricultural

land uses,

policy of wildlife

protection, lack of

sustainable wildlife

use guidelines

agricultural land uses,

policy of forest

protection, lack of

sustainable forest use

guidelines, exclusion of

private forestry

of environmental

issues, promotion of

arable agriculture, lack

of land use policy

of environmental

issues, promotion of

industrial and infrastructural

development at

cost of environment

Policy reforms in

environment, wildlife,

forestry, agriculture,

transport, water, land use

all aim to take account

of environmental issues

Market Lack of markets for Subsidized timber prices, Distorted input and Distorted energy YES

Failures wildlife products, low

fees and charge levels,

distorted agricultural

prices, poor

distribution of

wildlife revenues

unrealistic forest product

charges, lack of markets

for forest products, lack

of charges for forest

services, exclusion of

environmental values in

pricing structures

output prices, lack of

polluter pays principle,

lack of markets in

environmental goods

and services

prices, price discrimination

against clean

technologies, lack of

polluter pays principle,

lack of markets in

environmental goods

and services

Changes in taxation and

subsidy structures,

imposition of environmental

valuation

and accounting systems,

price adjustments and

introduction of charges

Source: Emerton et. al. (1998). The costs of environmental degradation to the Kenyan economy:

a review of the literature

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4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND WAY FORWARD

4.1 EMPOWER ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTIONS

The first recommendation is to empower environmental institutions to manage and

enforce their policy and statutory roles efficiently and effectively. The current status of

these organizations is one of limited abilities to manage and accomplish their mandates,

and low or ineffective enforcement of regulatory roles. As a result they are both

inefficient and ineffective, and unable to oversee the sustainable management of Kenya's

natural and environmental resources which its soils, water catchments, water supplies,

wildlife habitats, forests and woodlands, fisheries, marine ecosystems, urban and rural

settlements, and industrial and agricultural livelihoods.

The institutions referred to here are those established under the following mechanisms;

Machinery of Government, namely, the central and district offices of

ministries such as environment and natural resources, tourism and wildlife,

agriculture, water and irrigation, livestock and fisheries, lands, housing, local

government, planning and national development, finance, and office of the

president;

Acts of Parliament such as NEMA, KWS, Forestry Services, the Marine and

Fisheries Departments, Water Services institutions, and so on;

Local Authorities such as cities, towns, and county councils;

Parliamentary Oversight Committees such as the Departmental Committee on

Environment, Agriculture, Lands, and Natural Resources;

Local and international environmental NGOs; and

Community Based Organizations

The practical approaches to empowering these institutions to implement their roles well

and in complementary manner would include the following:

Reviewing and revamping the National Environmental Council, and enable it

to play it critical role of policy making;

Re-engage the Parliament Committee and Local Authorities to enable them to

play the full roles of policy oversight including receiving and debating on the

State of Environment Reports;

Coordinate environmental and economic policy making at the Central

Government through Ministries of Planning and Environment, including the

possibility of forming a dynamic cabinet subcommittee on development and

environment;

Harmonize and coordinate the various environmental and natural resources

laws to create common policy, technical, and regulatory platforms for NEMA,

KWS, Forestry Service, Marine and Fisheries Department, DRSRS, the Water

Services institutions, and so on by updating and tabling in Parliament a

-41


revised version of the Environment and Development Sessional Paper of

1999;

Provide the institutional and budget framework that allows the district

environment committees and environment committees in local authorities and

constituencies to be fully integrated into decision making for projects and

development activities; and

Bring to full strength and capacity the National Environmental Management

Authority (NEMA) and all the other regulatory arms and bodies enacted by

the Environmental Management and Coordination Act of 1999.

4.2 INTEGRATE ENVIRONMENT INTO MAINSTREAMING DEVELOPMENT

BUDGETING

The second recommendation and way forward is to fully integrate environmental services

into mainstream capital budgeting, and taxation proposals. Some practical measures for

doing this include:

Formal budgeting of environmental services and consequent implementation

by ministries other than environment and natural resources, in the key budget

priority areas of agriculture, water, health, infrastructure, lands, and trade and

industry;

A request to Parliament to earmark a certain percentage, for example 5 to 10

percent of the Local Authority Transfer Fund and Constituency Development

Funds to supporting sustainable environmental services; and

A request to the Ministries of Planning and National Development and

Finance, to consider designating environmental economic services as distinct

development pillar in the next planning blueprint and as sector working group

covering what is now under the rubric of agriculture and rural development.

4.3 INTEGRATE ENVIRONMENT INTO WEALTH AND EMPLOYMENT CREATION

As this paper shows, environmental services have typically been given a secondary place

in development practice because they are not seen as direct contributors to wealth and

employment creation or poverty reduction. It is clear that those living in the most

degraded and fragile environments are Kenya's urban and rural poor. They are also likely

to be least educated, the least served by economic and social infrastructure, the lowest

coverage by public and private institutions, and the most limited linkages and

opportunities to both local and global markets. Their environmental endowments and

limitations impoverish them, and their very poverty further degrades and endangers the

initial meagre endowments they began with (see table 5).

-42


The policies and actions outlined in the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and

Employment Creation, the past national development plans and policies, and even the

MDGs while recognizing the inter-linkages described above, do not propose any

sustained efforts to change the situation. This is probably as result of experience that

shows most of the environmental projects implemented are unable to sustain sufficient

economic and social benefits to the local communities.

Unlike agriculture or livestock keeping which have direct economic and social benefits,

too many conservation and environmental projects seem to be of little economic or social

benefit to the local communities, hence their reluctance to adopt them. Those projects

that do bring the sustained benefits associated with agriculture and livestock keeping,

namely, household income and employment, have tended to do much better. Examples

include the Il Ngwesi Lodge, Wasini Inland Boardwalk, and Malindi Green Town

Movement initiatives.

Lessons that can be learned from these projects are as follows:

The projects must be of a contractual nature, in which the community

contracts with an operator (Il Ngwesi) or local authority (Malindi) to provide

certain services and receive clearly defined benefits;

Provide direct wage employment and other income benefits to individuals

within the community; and

Initiatives are inspired by local commercially viable activities and

opportunities.

4.4 DEVELOP AND SUSTAIN AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS

CLIMATE

The final recommendation is for the government, in particular, the ministries of finance,

trade and industry, tourism and wildlife, planning & national development, and

environment and natural resources to come up with business environment framework for

environmental economic services and provide the necessary incentives for businesses and

communities to invest in these.

This is because it is clear that poverty environment initiatives most likely to succeed and

be sustained are those that will provide sustainable livelihoods in the communities, giving

local individuals and households long term employment and income generating

opportunities. These activities only arise when three things converge, a business concern

sees a commercial opportunity, a local authority or community also sees the opportunity,

and the two parties contract to create a mutually beneficial commercial venture.

Unfortunately, these are not found off-the-shelf, and cannot be described for entire

locations or regions, hence their paucity in national planning and budgeting. The

-43


development response is less one of planning for such things, than providing the enabling

environment that will enable such commercially viable environmental services projects to

proliferate and create the jobs and incomes required by the communities and households.

The proposed policy actions in line with type of thinking are:

Develop and enact environmental business guidelines that provide the regulations,

draft contract agreements, and terms by which business concerns and

communities engage in mutually beneficial commercial ventures that are

environmentally sustainable;

Provide tax incentives and other fiscal measures for environmentally friendly

businesses established in joint partnerships that provide significant employment

and income opportunities to the partners;

Devise a new form of corporate entity that is considered a corporate body that

communities can incorporate into, in order to enjoy an arms length ownership

(shareholding) but legally binding business relationship with other limited

companies and partnerships, so that profits and benefits are shared equitably and

do not go disproportionately to the business concerns.

-44


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Anantha Kumar Duraiappah (2001). Poverty and the Environment A Role for UNEP.

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Bojo, Jan and Reddy, R.C. (2002). Poverty Reduction Strategies and Environment. A

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CBS, GoK (2006). Kenya Facts and Figures 2006. www.cbs.go.ke

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CBS/Ministry of Health, GoK (2003). Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS)

2003. Preliminary Report. CBS / Ministry of Health. Kenya.

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Community Development Fund. www.cdf.go.ke

10. D.K. Manda, KIPPRA (2002). Globalisation

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Development and Poverty:

Recent trends and policy implications.

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14. FAO, (2005). Global forest resources Assessment 2005. Kenya Country report.

15. GoK/UNDP/Government of Finland (2005). MDGs status report for Kenya.

16. Government Innovators

Network, Harvard University (2006). Malindi Green Town

Movement. www.innovations.harvard.edu

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www.doingbusiness.org

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Local Government decision making: citizen participation and local accountability.

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major health issue in the western region. www.irinnews.org

22. James

Shikwati. Inter Region Economic Network [IREN]. Insecurity and Economic

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23. Jane

Kabubo-Mariara and Godfrey K. Ndeng'e. (2004). Measuring and monitoring

poverty: the case of Kenya.

24. Joseph Kinyua, Ministry of Agriculture, GoK (2004). Towards achieving food security in

Kenya. Paper presented at the 'Assuring food and nutrition security in Africa by 2020:

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Kampala, Uganda.

25. Kenya Gatsby Trust (2005). Promoting sustainable wealth creation. www.kenyagatsby.org

26. KFWG/DRSRS (2004). Changes in forest cover in Kenya's five 'Water Towers'.

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27. Kimalu et. al. KIPPRA (2001). A Situational Analysis of Poverty in Kenya. Social Sector

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Emerton, Naftali Ndugire and Crispin Bokea. The costs of environmental

degradation to the Kenyan economy: A Review of the literature. A report prepared for the

World Bank. January 1998.

30. Lynette Obare and J. B. Wangwe (1998). Underlying Causes of Deforestation and Forest

Degradation in Kenya. World Forest Movement.

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Development (WSSD).

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35. Mongabay.com (2006). Tropical rainforest, Kenya. Rainforests mongabay.com

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Programme for the Economic Recovery

Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation- 2003-2007.

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40. MPND, GoK (2005). Budget Strategy Paper 2005-2008.

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Meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

43. National Environment Management Agency (NEMA), GoK. (2006). www.nema.go.ke

44. NEMA, GoK (2003). State Of Environment Report for Kenya.

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of MDGs. www.moreandbetter.org/Kenya-sem/PRSP-Kenya.pdf

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Child health in Nairobi informal settlements. Journal of Health and Population in

Developing Nations.

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Katsiaouni. UNDP/UNCDF/WBI/UN-DESA (2003). Decentralization and

poverty reduction: does it work?

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Bermudez (1999). The Mineral Industry in Kenya. U.S Geological Survey

Minerals Year Book.

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(2005) A critical appraisal of the Constituency

Development Fund Act.

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The success story of the Wasini Island Women's Group Coral Garden

Boardwalk. www.pactworld.org

51. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) (2006). Promoting

regional economic integration through trade and investment. www.comesa.int

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53. Transparency International - Kenya (2006). Beyond illusions: a report on the status of the

struggle against corruption in Kenya. December 27th 2002 – December 27th 2003.

www.tikenya.org

54. Transparency International Kenya (2005). The Kenya Bribery Index 2005.

www.tikenya.org

55. UN in Kenya (2005). Millennium Development Goals in Kenya. www.un-kenya.org

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56. UNDP (2001). Kenya Human Development Report Addressing Social and Economic

Disparities for Human Development.

57. UNDP Kenya (2004). Community approach to the rehabilitation of Mt. Kenya world

heritage site. www.ke.undp.org

58. UNDP Kenya (2006). www.ke.undp.org

59. UNDP, UNEP, IIED, IUCN

and WRI (2005). Sustaining the Environment to Fight

Poverty and Achieve the MDGs. The economic case and priorities for action.

www.povertyenvironment.net/pep

60. UNEP/IISD (2005). Connecting poverty and ecosystem

services: A series of seven

country scoping studies. Focus on Kenya.

61. UNEP/KWS (1999). Aerial survey of the destruction of Mt. Kenya, Imenti and Ngare

Ndare forest reserves, UNEP, KWS 1999.

62. USAID Kenya (2002). Il Ngwesi Lodge: Linking Business and Nature, Laikipia, Kenya.

www.usaid.gov/regions/afr/success_stories/kenya.html#story2

63. World

Bank (2002). Kenya Community Driven Development: challenges and

opportunities.

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65. World Bank (2006). World Bank Little Green Data Book.

66. WWF (2006). Community based wetlands conservation. www.panda.org

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APPENDIX I: TERMS OF REFERENCE

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Kenya Poverty Environment Initiative

Activity 1.1: Review existing poverty and environment programmes and projects and

develop Framework of important poverty environment issues for Kenya at community

and district level.

1. Background

The Government of Kenya recognizes the -importance of the environment in achieving its

economic recovery and poverty reduction goals. The Economic Recovery Strategy forWealth and Employment Creation (2003 - 2007) states that 'economic recovery needs to besustainable if the objectives of poverty reduction and wealth creation are to be achieved.

However as the 9th National Development Plan 2002-2008 states, 'the full integration ofenvironmental concerns in development planning at all levels of decision making remains a

challenge to the country. It further acknowledges that 'in view of the high incidence of

poverty in the country, the need to integrate environmental concerns in development

activities should be given high priority'.

The Government of Kenya has developed a programme of work, the Kenya PovertyEnvironment Initiative (PEl), to address these issues. The Ministry of Planning and NationalDevelopment led programme development in partnership with the Ministry of Environment

and Natural Resources and the National Environmental Management Authority. The UnitedNations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme and the UK

Department for International Development support this project. The project is part of the

global UNDP-UNEP Poverty Environment Initiative.

Development of the Kenya PEl has highlighted the following constraints to realising theeconomic and social benefits of improved natural resource management:

inappropriate institutional structures and arrangements

lack of an adequate overarching framework for integrating environment into policy and

planning processes;

ineffective overarching environmental policy making framework;

the narrow sectoral focus of development planning and programmes, and the weakframework of incentives encouraging the integration of poverty environment

relationships across sectoral planning;

inadequate Government resources for undertaking environmental interventions;

inadequate capabilities at the national and local level for sector-wide and cross sectoral

working; and,

the need for stronger partnerships with civil society and the private sector.

To provide a foundation for the Kenya Poverty and Environment Initiative's further work, a

consultant is now being recruited to identify the key poverty and environment issues in Kenya

for delivering sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.

2. Purpose

To develop framework of important poverty and environment issues at micro (community)

and meso (district) scales and the supporting governance framework required, for maximizing

incomes in improving human well-being through better ecosystem management.

-48


3. Tasks

A) Produce a report which identifies:

critical poverty and environmental opportunities for supporting the incomes,

vulnerability and health of a critical mass of poor communities In Kenya;

institutional framework at the district level which governs management of these

resources; and

opportunities to strengthen the relationship between communities and governance

institution for better management of important natural resources.

In undertaking this piece of work, the consultant will be expected to (inter alia):

review analysis by key environment donors

review analysis by key environment NGOs

consult key stakeholders in NEMA and MPND and relevant GoK parastatals

consult with District Environment Officers

review Kenya Household Budget Survey and/or World Bank Poverty Assessment

review Poverty. Environment Mapping work of ILRI and WRI

assess importance of natural resources in the SME and informal income sector

analyse the Kenya Economic survey 2005

identify key successes and failures in community-based natural resource management

initiatives

summarise lessons learned from existing/past poverty and environment programmesand projects in Kenya

review the results of existing recent PRAs

NB. This activity is not expected to make detailed analysis of the environmental governanceframework and its support for delivering poverty and environment opportunities. However,

this activity will lead into a more detailed piece of work on this (See ToRs for Activity 1.2)

and therefore the consultant is expected to reflect upon:

the extent to which the existing poverty and environment governance frameworkaccommodates community poverty and environment issues;

the role of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the Local Authority

Transfer Funds (LATF) in addressing poverty and environment issues;

the links between the environmental and developmental governance frameworks.

B) Support communities in the districts of Bondo, Murang'a and Meru South identify

solutions to environmental management challenges they face.

The consultant will be expected to work with the National Environmental

Management Authority and District Environmental Officers to outline a methodology

for this task that shall be agreed with representatives of the PEl Technical Committee.

The methodology should:

o

Facilitate communities to identify of poverty and environment challenges,

causes and potential solutions;

o

Support communities to draft project proposals addressing the issues

identified; and

o

Ensure that this activity is aligned with District Environmental Action Plan

process.

A full time line for this activity to be agreed after draft methodology received.

-49

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