Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Study Report Draft Final
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REPUBLIC OF KENYA ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY REPORT DRAFT FINAL REPORT 30TH JUNE 2020 FOR GEOLOGICAL STUDY, FEASIBILITY STUDY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT STUDY, PRELIMINARY AND DETAILED ENGINEERING DESIGN OF SUSWA - MAI MAHIU (B7) ROAD SECTION TENDER NO: KeNHA/1969/ 2018 Engineering. Management. Design. CONSULTANTS ii AUTHENTICATION PAGE I John Githaiga Maina, the undersigned lead expert confirm that the contents of this report are a true representation of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment project report for the ‗Geological study, feasibility study, environmental and social impact study, preliminary and detailed engineering design of Suswa - Mai Mahiu (B7) road section‘ subsequently identified as the Suswa-Mai Mahiu Road project in the document. Submitted by: John Githaiga Maina Designation Lead Expert NEMA Registration 0903 P.O. Box 30197 00100, Nairobi Signature of authorized NEMA registered signatory Date 30th June 2020 For: Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) P.O Box 49712-00100 Nairobi +254 (20) 8013842 [email protected] iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AfDB African Development Bank AP Aggrieved Party EMU Environmental Management Unit CBOs Community Based Organizations CITES Commission for International Trade in Endangered Species CRC Grievance Redress Committee CREW Centre for Rights, Education and aWareness CSS Construction Site Supervisor DBM Dense Bituminous Macadam EA Environmental assessment EMCA Environmental Management and Conservation Act EMMP Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan ESMMP Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring Plan ESIA Environmental and Social ESMP Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring Plan ERT Electrical Resistivity Tomography EPRA Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority FGDs Focus Group Discussions FWD Falling Weight Deflectometer GoK Government of Kenya HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunity Deficiency Syndrome IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature FGM Female Genital Mutilation GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism GCS Gravel; Concrete and Soil ICD Inland Container Depot IEC Independent Environmental Consultant Team IPP Independent Power Producers KenGen Kenya Electricity Generating Company KAG Kenya Assembles of God KeNHA Kenya National Highways Authority KeRRA Kenya Rural Roads Authority KETRACO Kenya Electricity Transmission Company KFS Kenya Forestry Service KI Key Informant KPA Kenya Ports Authority KWS Kenya Wildlife Service KNASP Kenya National Aids Strategic Plan LHS Left hand side MASW Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Waves MDD Maximum Dry Density NCA National Construction Authority NEMA National Environmental Management Authority NLC National Land Commission NMK National Museums of Kenya iv NTSA National Transport and Safety Authority OHS Occupational Health and Safety OSHA Occupational Health and Safety Act NGO Non-Governmental Organization PAPs Project Affected Persons PD Public Disclosure PM Particulate Matter PPE Personal Protective Equipment RAP Resettlement Action Plan RE Resident Engineer SEP Stakeholder Engagement Plan SERC Standards and Enforcement Review Committee SGR Standard Gauge Railway SSO Social Standards Officer ToRs Terms of Reference TRL Transport Research Laboratory WHO World Health Organization WRMA Water Resource and management Authority v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Project Description The road B7section between Suswa and Mai-Mahiu has experienced recurrent closure incidences in the last 10 years. Runoff from Mount Longonot and Suswa areas overtops the road depositing silt and initiating subsidence at fault lines rendering the road impassable. The closures disrupt transport and economic activities dependent on the road. The redesign and reconstruction is aimed at eliminating the closure incidences and ensure smooth traffic operations. Project Description The road section under study is approximately 40 Kms from Mai Mahiu in Nakuru County to the Olasiti township environs in Narok County. The project ToRs include a geological study, a feasibility study and an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) to inform the preliminary and detailed engineering design of the Suswa –Mai Mahiu road. The resultant detailed engineering takes into account the studies‘ findings the road‘s reconstruction. Objective of the road project The proposed road project intends to eliminate the frequent road closures and ensure continued connectivity between Narok, Bomet, Kisii, Nyamira, Kisumu Counties and the rest of the Country. The road project objective is aligned to National infrastructure policies and to ensure undisrupted traffic flow through the affected road section. The project is being undertaken by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), a state corporation in the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development responsible for management, development, rehabilitation, and maintenance of Class B status roads. ESIA Objectives The ESIA study sought to identify impacts the road project would have on the biophysical and social environments and investigate other causes generating the impacts on the road and seek redress mechanisms for them. The findings were to identify and categorise impacts of the proposed road project, develop and propose mitigation interventions to prevent or ameliorate adverse impacts that may arise. The social aspect of the study investigated potential impacts of the road project on resident communities, their social-cultural fabric and livelihoods. Mitigation and interventions measures were developed to enhance positive impacts and minimize potentially negative outcomes. An environmental and social management and monitoring plan (ESMMP) for the proposed project was developed from the ESIA study. Applicable Legislation and policies The ESIA conformed to the spectrum of legislation and regulations that apply to Category A NEMA classified projects in Kenya that may have deleterious and unforeseen adverse impacts. It was conducted in accordance with Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) No 8 of 1999 requirements and fulfilled subsequent regulations enacted under it. The study took cognizance other relevant Acts vi of Parliament and Legislation, policies and provisions of the Kenyan Constitution of 2010 with a bearing on environment, infrastructure development and public participation. International best practices as contained in treaties, protocols and guidelines domesticated in Kenya were also adopted in this ESIA. ESIA methodology The ESIA study was conducted between March 2019 and December 2019, spanning the wet and dry seasons in the project area. Baseline data was collected through and initial desk top study for secondary data and subsequent field studies for primary data collection. The environmental study documented the state of the environment, vegetation and wildlife distribution and composition, land use types, activities, and other processes that impact the road. Key informant interviews and consultations were conducted with stakeholders considered as resource users, owners, mandated regulatory authorities and those with activities that impact the road‘s landscape. Community consultations were held for awareness creation, information gathering and public disclosure of the project. Questionnaires administered at household levels generated data on demographic parameters, resource use and ownership, socio-economic profiles and other aspects. Baseline conditions The prevailing complex matrix of topography, geology, soil characteristics and climate render the road passage areas naturally prone to erosion and sedimentation processes. Inappropriate human activities and land use in the fragile environment combine with natural environmental drivers to trigger the processes that lead to subsidence, siltation, flooding road cuts, and road closure resulting in inconvenience and economic losses. Biophysical environment The road passage area is low lying relative to the rift valley escarpments bounding it to the east and west and Longonot and Suswa mountains. It is crossed by numerous lagas and gullies that track fault lines and has floodplain zones in several places. The road area has water catchments sourcing flows from Mt Suswa, Longonot and the Kijabe and Nairegia Enkare escarpment areas. The gullies manifest ongoing erosion and there are silt and pumice deposition sites upstream and downstream of the road. Their impacts are widespread and conspicuous along the road passage and downstream areas that include Lake Magadi. The geology and topography of the road passage area is a complex outcome of Mt Longonot and Suswa volcanic and tectonic movements linked to the formation of the Eastern Rift valley. The area has fault lines related to the rift valley formation and eruptions of Mt Suswa and Longonot. There are lava tubes, fissures and pyroducts that cause soil subsidence. The soils are heterogeneous volcanic deposits and sediments with fine silt, silty-sandy particles and sand being prevalent. They are poorly consolidated, fragile and highly erodible.The climate of the area is dry with a mean annual rainfall of less than 800mm annually that falls in two seasons, March-May and October-November and frequently occurs as localized and intense storms that trigger flashfloods. The area is vii devoid of permanent surface water bodies and waterways as the substrate composition and geology preclude retention of surface and underground water. Flora and fauna The vegetation consist of mixed or pure stands of Tarchonanthus camphoratus