Makueni County Commissioner (CC) Duncan Darusi has called for a multi-agency approach in tackling issues to do with the environment in the area.
Darusi said a collective responsibility was necessary in addressing environmental issues that have brought effects on climate change across all sectors in the country.
Consequently, the County Commissioner underscored the need for various agencies in the national and county government, as well as other partners to work closely for synergy in order to avoid duplication of efforts and find concrete solutions to the effects of climate change.
“Issues to do with the environment are emotive and calls for a collective responsibility in addressing them. Climate change is real, everyone must know their role in order to achieve tangible results,” said Darusi during the sensitization of the Makueni County Environment Committee (CEC) members at a hotel in Machakos Town.
The committee members were being sensitized on the draft Makueni County Environment Action Plan (CEAP) for 2025-2029 that was organized by the Department of Lands, Urban Planning and Environment and funded by the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF).
While challenging each of the officers to know their thematic areas, the County Commissioner reminded the members that they should not take the workshop as a mere routine, but rather a platform geared towards finding lasting solutions to resolve climate change concerns in the county.
On his part, the County Executive for Lands, Urban Planning and Environment Japheth Mang’oka said it was imperative to form 3 sub-committees namely Environmental Coordination, Implementation and Reporting.
The other sub counties are Environmental Compliance, Oversight, Monitoring and Evaluation and Planning, Budgeting and Resource Mobilization that will be charged with dealing with issues of environment.
Mang’oka said the subcommittees will among other things mobilize for resources, ensure the projects being implemented adhere to environment regulations as expected, besides coordinating environmental matters in the county.
“The subcommittees will be at the forefront in coordinating matters of environment, resource mobilization and implementation and enforcement besides monitoring and evaluating the projects approved by County Environment Committee, on whether they adhered to the regulations in an effort to conserve the environment,” said Mang’oka.
He lauded the Technical Working group for coming up with the Action Plan that will cater for both human beings and wildlife that suffer untold miseries, especially during prolonged drought in the area.
“When we have an Action Plan, it is good to take into consideration animals. We are also working for the good of the people. When drought hits the area, wildlife strays out of their habitat to look for water, thus disrupting communities,” he observed.
Speaking at the same function, Makueni County National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Director, Vincent Oloo Ochieng sad that CEAP will document and profile environmental priority issues and challenges within the county to be implemented in 5 years.
Ochieng said that some of the issues that will be prioirtised will include solid waste management and restoration of degraded land and water and sanitation among others.
“Through the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) that provides for environmental protection, Environmental Assessment, Environmental Audit and restoration orders, every county is required to have a CEAP to prioritise issues to be tackled within five years,” he said.
During the two-day workshop at a hotel in Machakos, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) Makueni County Drought Coordinator (CDC) Alice Munyao said that they will support the CEAP draft to be taken to all the six sub counties for public participation, aimed at capturing people’s input.
Munyao further said members of both the County Executive and the County Assembly will also be engaged to give their views on the drafted CEAP in order to ensure inclusivity and involvement of all stakeholders.
During the Environmental Committee meeting, members unanimously adopted the draft Makueni County Environment Action Plan (CEAP) 2025-2029 by approving the plan as presented by the Technical Working Group.
Meanwhile, the public engagements commenced Wednesday and continues Thursday, while launching of the policy document is expected at the end of March 2025, after having gone through the county executive and county assembly respectively.
By Patrick Nyakundi
