REPUBLIC OF KENYA 
       
       
       
       
       
             
       
       
       
       
       
          NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT POLICY 
                                       
       
                                                 Revised DRAFT # 13 February 2013 
       
       
       
            MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND MINERAL RESOURCES 
               NHIF BUILDING, RAGATI ROAD, UPPER HILL 
                     P.O. BOX 30126 - 00100 
                        NAIROBI 
                 Email: Policydirector@environment.go.ke 
                   Website: www.environment.go.ke 
                           
                           
                                                    TABLE OF CONTENTS 
                  
                 TABLE OF CONTENTS _____________________________________________________ I 
                 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS _________________________________________________ III 
                 FOREWORD _____________________________________________________________ IV 
                 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ________________________________________ V 
                 1.0.  INTRODUCTION _____________________________________________________ 1 
                 2.0   SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS _____________________________________________ 2 
                 3.0  GOAL, OBJECTIVES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES _______________________ 4 
                    3.1 Goal _________________________________________________________________ 4 
                    3.2 Objectives ____________________________________________________________ 4 
                    3.3 Guiding Principles _____________________________________________________ 4 
                 4.0 MANAGEMENT OF ECOSYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF NATURAL 
                       RESOURCES __________________________________________________________ 6 
                    4.1     Forest Ecosystems __________________________________________________ 6 
                    4.2     Freshwater and Wetland Ecosystems ___________________________________ 6 
                    4.3.    Coastal and Marine Ecosystems _______________________________________ 7 
                    4.4.    Mountain Ecosystems _______________________________________________ 8 
                    4.5     Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Ecosystems __________________________________ 8 
                    4.6     Land ______________________________________________________________ 9 
                    4.7     Soils  ______________________________________________________________ 9 
                    4.8     Minerals ___________________________________________________________ 9 
                    4.9     Biodiversity _______________________________________________________ 10 
                    4.10    Wildlife Resources __________________________________________________ 10 
                    4.11    Livestock _________________________________________________________ 11 
                    4.12    Fisheries __________________________________________________________ 11 
                 5.0   ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ___________________________________ 12 
                    5.1     Natural Capital and Valuation ________________________________________ 12 
                    5.2     Trade and Environment _____________________________________________ 13 
                    5.3     Sustainable Tourism ________________________________________________ 13 
                    5.4     Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns  ______________________ 14 
                    5.5     Industrialization and environment ____________________________________ 14 
                    5.6     infrastructural development and environment ___________________________ 15 
                    5.7     Chemical Management ______________________________________________ 15 
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                   5.8    Sustainable Human Settlements ______________________________________ 15 
                   5.9    Energy Use, Efficiency and Conservation ______________________________ 16 
                   5.10   Climate Change ____________________________________________________ 16 
                   5.11   Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management _____________________ 17 
                   5.12   Gender, Vulnerability and Environment ________________________________ 18 
                   5.13   HIV/AIDS and the Environment ________________Error! Bookmark not defined. 
                6.0. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND HEALTH ___________________________ 18 
                   6.1    Air Quality ________________________________________________________ 19 
                   6.2    Water and Sanitation ________________________________________________ 19 
                   6.3    Waste management _________________________________________________ 20 
                   6.4    Radiation _________________________________________________________ 20 
                   6.5    Toxic and Hazardous Substances _____________________________________ 20 
                   6.6    Noise ____________________________________________________________ 21 
                7.0  RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND MONITORING _________________________ 21 
                   7.1    Scientific Research And Information Management _______________________ 22 
                   7.2    Education, Communication and Awareness _____________________________ 23 
                   7.3    Environmental Monitoring and Assessment ____________________________ 23 
                8.0  ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE ____________________________________ 23 
                   8.1    Environmental Legal Reforms ________________________________________ 23 
                   8.2    Institutional Arrangements  __________________________________________ 24 
                   8.3    Human Resources Development and Capacity Building __________________ 24 
                   8.4    Partnerships and Stakeholder Involvement _____________________________ 25 
                   8.5    Funding Mechanisms _______________________________________________ 25 
                   8.6    Regional and International Cooperation ________________________________ 25 
                9.0  IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS ______________________ 26 
                   9.1    Integration of Environmental Concerns in all Policy, Planning and Development 
                           Processes _________________________________________________________ 26 
                   9.2    Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities __________________________________ 26 
                   9.3    Environmental Compliance __________________________________________ 27 
                   10.      GLOSSARY _______________________________________________________ 28 
                 
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                                ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
          RICHARD LERISIAN LESIYAMPE 
           
          PRINCIPAL  SECRETARY,  DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRONMENT  AND  NATURAL 
          RESOURCES 
                                           iii               National Environment Policy, 2013