REF: NEMA/SEA/5/2/036 DRAFT STUDY REPORT FOR STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (SEA) FOR EXPANDED IRRIGATION PROGRAMME AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC PROGRAMME IN THE TANA AND ATHI BASINS PREPARED BY ENVILEAD LIMITED (NEMA REGISTRATION NO. 6281) P.O BOX 20899 – 00100 NAIROBI TEL: 0711-640754, 020 – 2108708 EMAIL: [email protected] / [email protected] @ FEBRUARY 2016 Envilead Ltd /SEA/01/2014-16 CERTIFICATION This Draft SEA Study Report has been prepared in line with the provisions of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) Amendment of 2015, Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003 and the Strategic Impact Assessment (SEA) 2012 for submission to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). We the project proponent and the SEA Firm of Experts certify that the particulars given in this report are correct to the best of our knowledge. PROJECT PROPONENT: The General Manager National Irrigation Board P.O. Box 30372- 00100 Nairobi Kenya Signature Date FIRM OF SEA/EIA EXPERTS: Envilead Limited (NEMA Registration No. 6281) P.O Box 20899 – 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Signature Date NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for Expanded Irrigation Programme and National Economic Programme in the Tana and Athi River basins- February 2016 1 Envilead Ltd /SEA/01/2014-16 1.0 Objectives of SEA The SEA process aims to systematically integrate environmental considerations into planning, and decision-making processes. The study seeks to ensure that programme implementation does not lead to pollution of water resources to levels that would damage natural systems; ensure that water abstraction, run off and recharge within programme area is maintained within carrying capacity of local rivers; ensure that soil contamination is reduced and soil quality safeguarded; and minimise solid waste arising from activities associated with the proposed programmes. Other objectives include to ensure sustainable management of key wildlife sites and the ecological processes on which they depend; reduce vulnerability of the local people to the effects of climate change including crop failures and flooding; and to give access to satisfying and rewarding employment opportunities through employment creation in the agricultural sector among others. 2.0 Indicators A number of indicators will be used to ascertain levels of environmental and resource degradation associated with implementation and operation of programme activities. They include quality status (biology and chemistry) of rivers within the programme area; quality and quantity of groundwater within the programme area; water availability for water-dependent habitats, especially designated wetlands; water availability for competing uses; land identified as derelict within the programme area during programme operation phase (number of hectares); hectares of contaminated land in programme area and amount of waste generated during construction and operation phases of project components. Other indicators include achievement of Biodiversity Action Plan targets; conditions of nationally important wildlife sites, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) etc., employment opportunities created through agricultural enterprises and increase of income levels among the local people. 3.0 Methodology for the Study The SEA process was guided by the National Guidelines for SEA in Kenya and the Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit Administrative Procedures. The SEA process also used an integrated approach and considered international prescriptions, national laws and best practices during the study. Methodologies used in this study include screening, scoping and detailed SEA study. Screening was undertaken to determine whether the proposed programmes required a SEA process while scoping was used to determine the focus, extent, content, approach, and criteria of SEA study. Detailed study involved collection of social, economic and environmental data and information within programme area for purposes of determining how the programmes fit within the local setting. 4.0 Objectives of the Pogrammes The objectives of the NIB’s programmes include accelerating irrigation expansion and development; improving performance of irrigation and drainage infrastructure through rehabilitation; improving provision Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for Expanded Irrigation Programme and National Economic Programme in the Tana and Athi River basins- February 2016 2 Envilead Ltd /SEA/01/2014-16 of operation and maintenance services; increasing efficiency in water utilization and strengthening capacity of farmers and farmer organizations for management of irrigation systems. Other objectives include improving land tenure systems; improving financial sustainability of public irrigation schemes; and improving agricultural and land productivity in irrigation schemes. 5.0 Areas and sectors affected The areas to be affected by programme activities are those that are drained by Athi and Tana Rivers and their tributaries and include nineteen counties in total. A number of sectors including agriculture, water, forestry, Public Health and wildlife will be affected by programme activities. Intensification of agriculture is highly likely to result in the intensification of problems from pests and diseases hence affecting the internal dynamics of agricultural sector. Intensified cropping systems will rely on improved crop varieties which tend to require agrochemical inputs to reach their yield potentials. Uncontrolled use of agrochemical will impact on public health of the local people arising from use of pesticides and agrochemicals. At operation phase, the projects under the programmes will require large volumes of water from nearby water sources which may result in strain on the available water resources for competing uses. Vegetation clearance within project alignment area may lead to destruction of forestry resources which are wildlife habitats. This will negatively affect wildlife and forestry resources. More importantly, construction works will reduce available feeding and breeding habitat for local fauna, and may affect access to vegetative resources within the project alignment area. 6.0 The proposed programmes Two programmes are under investigations in this study and they include the National Economic Programme (NEP) and Expanded Irrigation Programme (EIP). Under the NEP is the Galana/Kulalu Food Security Project where the government targets to put 1 million acres under irrigation and other enterprises by 2017. Expanded Irrigation Programme aims to attain national food security in Kenya by eliminating hunger amongst Kenyans through acceleration of coverage of the 1.7 million acres potential irrigation land in the country which will ultimately make Kenya a net exporter of food. The programme aims to develop 540, 000 ha of land for irrigation in 5 major river basins, among them Tana and Athi river basins in order to improve sustainability in agriculture and production through irrigation. This will in turn increase food security by expansion of areas under irrigation which will in the long run enhance income levels of the farmers and raise living standards of about 1,525,400 households within the targeted areas 7.0 Programme activities In order to achieve the targets set for irrigation development, an implementation plan covering the period from 2011-2030 has been prepared. Activities to be undertaken during project implementation include financing civil works and non structural interventions; contracting and supervision of the construction works to completion for the ongoing projects; tendering, contracting and supervision of construction works to completion for the projects with tender documents ready for implementation; financing of the feasibility and detailed design studies and carrying out feasibility studies, detailed study, design, tendering, contracting and supervision of construction work for the projects at preliminary design/Identification/Investigation stage. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for Expanded Irrigation Programme and National Economic Programme in the Tana and Athi River basins- February 2016 3 Envilead Ltd /SEA/01/2014-16 Other activities include updating of feasibility study reports; conducting detailed design and preparation of tender documents; tendering contracting and supervision of construction work for the projects whose feasibility studies are complete; upgrading of feasibility studies; design and tender documents review; tendering, contracting and supervision of construction for the projects with design documents ready; and handing over of the completed works to the beneficiaries. 8.0 Pressures and trends within the study area Socio-economic activities as currently practiced within Tana and Athi River basins have led to various pressures on available resources. The pressures in Tana River basin include inappropriate land use; overutilization of water; conversion of land to agriculture; overstocking of livestock; conversion of land to settlements; loss of catchment forests; increased demand for resources; reduced water levels; and land subdivision and fragmentation. In Athi River basin, pressures include over-exploitation of surface and ground water resources; wetland resources degradation; unregulated diversions of river channels; catchment degradation due to overgrazing and sand harvesting; land use changes for settlement and agriculture; and climate change and variability. These pressures have led to a number of environmental and socio-economic