7270. Kisii Water Supply and Sanitation Project - Kenya - ORIO11KE21

The project is defined as the development, construction and/or rehabilitation and operation of a new water supply system for supplying 41,000 m³ per day of potable water by gravity flow to the 576,000 people in Kisii by the year 2034. This will be achieved by the construction of a dam, treatment works, tanks, pipelines, household connections and public taps. In addition, GUWASCO and LVSWSB will receive training in order to enhance capacity.

Advisory reports and other documents

Significant details

On request of the RVO (Dutch Enterprise Agency), the NCEA has reviewed the ESIA for the Kisii-Nyamira Water Supply and Sanitation Project. The working group consisting of experts in hydrology, civil-engineering and resettlement policy, have visited the site 3 - 6 July 2018. The findings of the working group are documented in the advisory review. 

Background information

Screening situation
The basis for EIA legislation in Kenya is the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) 1999, as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit Regulations that followed in 2003. The projects to be subjected to EIA are specified in the Second Schedule of EMCA 1999. The EIA procedure is two-staged: for those projects on the screening list a preliminary assessment has to be undertaken. On the basis of this assessment the central authority for EIA, the National Environmental Management Agency (NEMA), decides whether a full EIA is needed. In order to carry out EIAs in Kenya, accredited consultants have to be engaged.

Screening conclusion:
In the second schedule of the EMCA 1999 the following category of projects is listed under number 4. Dams, rivers and water resources including: 

1. storage dams, barrages and piers;
2. river diversions and water transfer between catchments;
3. flood control schemes;
4. drilling for the purpose of utilising ground water resources including geothermal energy.

The proposed project, in particular the construction of a dam fits into this category and that means that NEMA decides whether a full EIA is needed.

NCEA activities in Kenya: Since 2011, the NCEA advises NEMA on an SEA for the Tana Delta Land Use Plan. 

Parties involved

Members of the working group

Chair: Tanya van Gool
Technical secretary: Arend Kolhoff

Further details

Country: Kenya

Last modified: 15 Jul 2022