ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTSTUDY REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED UPGRADING OF THE NGINYANG’-LOKORI-LOKICHAR ROAD (C113 /C46 ) TO BITUMEN STANDARDS August 2016 Submitted By : Submitted to: Environmental Department Director General Otieno Odongo & Partners Kenya National Highway Authority Consulting Engineers P.O. Box 49712-00100 P.O. Box 54021-00200, Nairobi Nairobi, Kenya Fax 254 020 38701 Email: info@kenh a.co.ke Email:info@ coo pafrica.com 1 Document Authentication: This report is prepared for and on behalf of: Kenya National Highway Authority (KENHA) P.O. Box 49712-00100 NAIROBI-KENYA Signed by:…………………… Position............................................ Signature: …………………………. Date ……………………………. Otieno Odongo & Partners Consulting Engineers (a registered firm of experts with the National Environment Management Authority bearing license No. 1596 confirm that the contents of this report are a true representation of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the proposed upgrading of the Ng’inyang-Lokori-Lokichar Road (C113/C46) to bitumen standard. Signed by: Firm of Environmental Experts: Otieno Odongo & Partners Consulting Engineers Signature ………………………………………………………… Date: ............................................. 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction The Government of the Republic of Kenya (GoK) through the Development vote has assigned Otieno Odongo & Partners Consulting Engineers to undertake Preliminary and Detailed Engineering Design for upgrading the Ng’inyang – Lokori – Lokichar Road (C113/C46) to bitumen standards. The Project Road is under the management of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA). The road is an existing alignment and it traverses several sub counties namely East Pokot, Turkana Central, Turkana East and Turkana South located in two Counties namely Baringo and Turkana County of the Rift Valley Region. The road which is currently an earth road in some sections and narrowing to a path in others due to over grown bushes measures approximately 200km. The project road starts at Ng’inyang and runs in a Northerly direction through Kapedo, Napeitom, and Lokori where it joins C46 and ends at Lokichar at the Junction with Road A1. The design has proposed a realignment of about 3km at at Lokichar Shopping Centre joining A1. The existing road alternates between earth and gravel surface. The drainage along this section of road is also poor, with flood water ponding on the road whenever it rains. This is caused by the fact that the existing road level is lower than the surrounding ground. It is also worth noting that the infiltration rates are low hence during rainfall, most of the water floods the road section. The Section between Lokichar and Ngamia 1 oil Well has wide flood crossings and the drainage structures, mainly drifts and pipe culverts, which are inadequate. Improved gravel sections were noted within the same stretch this is between km 200- 175. The design has proposed a realignment at Lokichar Shopping Centre. The road width is not clearly defined over the earth sections. The average carriageway width at the gravelled sections is approximately 5 m wide with 2 m wide shoulders. Drainage is not taken care of adequately. Due to the drainage problems noted above the road alignment has to be lifted, which means existing gravel cannot be utilized for the final pavement. The scope of the assignment encompassed undertaking an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) as per the Environmental Management and Coordination Act 1999 which requires all new projects to carry out an ESIA study at the project planning phase in order to ensure that significant impacts on the physical and social environment are taken into consideration at the construction, operations and decommissioning stages. The EISA study also provide guidelines that aims at harmonizing the coexistence of the project with the surroundings and at the same time facilitates key stakeholders make informed decisions during evaluation and approval of the project. Legal Regulatory Framework The ESIA for the of the proposed road was undertaken in accordance to the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA), 1999 and its subsequent supplements; the Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulation, 2003; 3 EMCA (Waste Management) Regulations, 2006 and EMCA (Water Quality) Regulations, 2006; EMCA (Controlled Substance)Regulations, 2007; EMCA (Noise and Vibration Control) Regulations, 2009; EMCA (Emissions Control) Regulations,2006; EMCA (Wetlands, River Banks, Lake Shores and Sea Shore Management) Regulations, 2009; EMC(Conservation of Biological Diversity and Resources, Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing) Regulations,2006; the Land Act 2012, Water Act, Irrigation Act among other pertinent legal and institutional framework regulating roads development. Rationale of the SIA and EIA Studies The SIA and EIA studies provide an analysis of the implications of the planned investment on the social and biophysical environment in the project areas. It addresses key environmental and social aspects of the proposed investment project in relation to other land uses and likely impact on the communities in the project area. The objective of the ESIA is to analyse and evaluates the anticipated impacts of the proposed road upgrading project to bitumen standards on the physical, biological, socio-cultural and socio- economic environment and prepare an EIA report recommending appropriate solutions to minimize any undesirable effects resulting from the road improvement. The scope of the analyses based on the assignments TOR was to include, but not limited to the following factors: o The role of the project in the development plans at national and regional level; o Preservation of areas and land use of particular value including agricultural and, natural conservation areas, forests and other important natural resources, cultural and historic sites, etc; o Assessment of direct impact on agriculture and forestry, particularly the utilization of the fuel wood and water; o Disturbance if vegetation, and plans for re-vegetation; The prevention of soil erosion and sedimentation; o The presentation of health hazards arising from pounding water and pollution of water courses and/or sources; o Measures for the rehabilitation of construction materials, borrow pits and quarries; Health and sanitation for the road construction labour units; o The avoidance of reduction of visual intrusion; and o Assessment of the impact on demographic factors including the prevention of undesirable roadside developments, and recommended regulations and measures to limit negative impact on adjacent communities and areas. 4 Scope of the ESIA The ESIA study was undertaken in accordance with the Environmental Management and Co- ordination Act (EMCA), 1999 and the Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003. The study established the environmental and, social status of the project areas and thereafter develop guidelines to enable harmonize the coexistence of the project with the surroundings and at the same time provide information that shall facilitate the key stakeholders make informed decision during evaluation and approval of the project. The EIA study was conducted by a team of experts who applied the ESIA study methodologies namely scoping, screening and detailed assessment. The methodologies were applied in collection of primary and secondary data during field studies, public consultations and desk top studies. This methodologies enabled the consultant develop baseline information on the environmental and social status of the project area. The key activities undertaken during the assessment included the following: • Consultations with the key project stakeholder including the project proponent, community members, administrative authority, opinion leader and sub county departmental heads. The consultations were based on the proposed project, site planning and the project implementation plan; • Physical inspections of the proposed project area which included observation of available land marks, photography and interviews with the local residents; • Evaluation of the activities around the project site and the environmental setting of the wider area through physical observations and literature review; • Review of available project documents; and • Report writing, review and submissions. Project description The proposed project shall involve upgrading the existing earth road connecting Ng’inyang to Lokichar to bitumen standard. The road is generally in ridable standards apart from sections towards Kapedo which is very rocky. The road alignment is still available in most ections of the road this is it free of any development apart from sections at the trading centres where it is encroached with business structures and at Napeitom village which is developed on the alignment to control movement into the village due to the high insecurity in the area. The alignment traverses several seasonal river beds and is aligned with Indigenous trees in several sections especially near the river beds. The project shall follow the existing alignment as much as possible and the road shall be provided with drainage structure and road furniture and, amenities. The drainage structures to be developed shall include bridges and culverts. The road furniture to be developed shall include road crossing, service roads, bus bays, truck layby, and provisions for wayside amenities among others. The key activities to be undertaken during the development shall include: