4 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS
4.4.5 Improved Infrastructure
The development of Nano flood-based irrigation is meant to bring about other infrastructural developments such as the expansion of the roads, markets expansion and others such as recreational facilities. The availability of water both for domestic and livestock purposes during the wet and dry seasons will also play a key role in the development of the project area. The canal will ensure a reduction in the distance between the various households and the water collection points as compared to the long distances initially covered from the homesteads to the river thereby saving time used to ferry water and doing other productive work. The produce will also attract more businessmen to the centres who will end up requiring accommodation and recreational facilities.
Anticipated Negative Socio-Economic Impacts at the Operation Phase 4.5.1 Public health Concern/Water-borne diseases
Irrigation schemes/projects are prone to water borne diseases due to people consuming untreated water from the stream meant only for irrigation, stagnating of water in the schemes creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which end up spreading malaria.
Mitigation Measures
• Manage irrigation efficiency to prevent water ponding.
• Training to farmer on disease prevention and control 4.5.2 Water use conflicts
The conflicts could be: conflict for water between farmers in the project or conflict for water between upstream and downstream users.
Mitigation Measures
• The committee should come up with a schedule on how water will be utilized by farmers in the project.
• WRA should give water abstraction permit to various s and individuals specifying how much water should be drawn from the stream
Anticipated Negative Environmental Impacts at the Operation Phase 4.6.1 Sedimentation/Siltation of the streambed
From excavation, works for creating canals and drainage may result to erosion the soils will be transported to the stream channel causing sedimentation of reservoirs and intake structures.
Increased sediment load may lead to change in stream morphology; together with increased stream, turbidity will affect downstream ecology.
Mitigation Measures
• Frequent de-silting the intake and irrigation canals during operation
• The contractor will be required to fill up excavated trenches after contractors work
4.6.2 Water Pollution
Since irrigation begins in the scheme, farmers may use excessive quantities or in appropriate chemicals that are dangerous to the environment. Return flows to the stream may introduce agrochemicals residues into the stream channels. Too much nitrates from fertilizers and other agrochemicals may cause eutrophication thus degrading water resources.
Mitigation Measures
• Train farmers on proper agrochemical use, handling and disposal
• Encourage farmers to use manure instead of fertilizer
• Each farmer should leave 50m buffer to the stream as required by NEMA, WRA and they should plant trees not crops for daily consumption.
• Water quality monitoring should be carried out on quarterly basis.
4.6.3 Waste generation
Waste generated during operation can be classified as follows: Drainage water from the cultivated areas resulting from water over-application; Drainage water from cleaning of sprayers and other chemical application equipment; Dry solid waste (e.g. empty packaging materials etc); Contamination of air, soils, ground and surface water; Vermin infestation and diseases risk; Spread of infectious and contagious diseases
Mitigation Measures
• Proper identification of all waste streams thus management to involve reduce, re-use and recycle.
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) should be adopted for working in and near water to avoid water pollution from liquid waste
5 PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS Overview
The Kenyan government has enshrined the need for human societies’ involvement in project development in the Constitution. This has been set out in the EMCA, 1999 and Environmental (Impact and Audit) Regulations, 2003. The proposed project has incorporated public consultations in order to understand the local impacts, needs and wishes of the community and eventually incorporate them into the final designs and operations of the project.
Objectives
The overall goal of the consultation process is to disseminate project information and to incorporate the views of the local community and key stakeholders in the design of the mitigation measures and the management plan.
The objectives of the consultation process were to: -
Improve project design and, thereby, minimize conflicts and delays in implementation of the proposed flood-based irrigation scheme
Facilitate the development of appropriate and acceptable entitlement options; Increase long term project sustainability and ownership.
An important element in the process of impact assessment is consulting with
stakeholders/community to gather the information needed to complete the assessment.
The process of consultation and public participation was also aimed at obtaining local knowledge, increasing public confidence and reducing future conflicts
Public consultation was also aimed to gather the perception of the project by the community and/or stakeholders and residents on the negative impacts of the project and the anticipated negative impacts.
Methodology
Public participation for the proposed project was conducted through the public consultative meetings and admission of questionnaires to allow for systematic understanding and interaction of the project beneficiaries, neighbors, local community members/surrounding enterprises and any other would be affected/interested parties.
i. Public consultation questionnaires
ESIA questionnaires were administered, to gather information from key stakeholder and the members of the public. This was done using structured questionnaires to assess the environmental and socio-economic views of the respondents. A total of 12 questionnaires were administered in the project area.
ii. Public consultation meetings
In seeking the views of the key stakeholders, and any other would be affected/interested parties the consultant organized a consultative meeting targeting the Butiye community members, the administration and the proponent key staff at County and sub-county level, the ward
Table 5-1 Summary of Public Consultative Meeting
S/No. Venue Number of Participants Date of Meeting Male Female Total
1 Bori Village 10 18 28 12th May 2021
A total of 28 participants attended the stakeholder consultative meeting. During the public participation meeting, stakeholders had a chance to interact with the proponent represented by the EIA expert and ministry of agriculture officials at county and sub-county level. The findings are incorporated into this report and captures the issues, suggestions, concerns and recommendations from public meetings on site.
Findings of the public participation and consultation 5.4.1 Positive environmental and social impacts of the project
• The project will provide employment creation for the youth and women during construction and operational phase
• The project is anticipated to reduce crop losses and enable access to improve market prices.
• Through construction of the proposed project, there will be reduction of poverty level in the area and the livelihood will improve.
• Anticipated improved crop varieties from the access to market and improved seed varieties
• Improved household income for the community that will lead to improved standards of living at community level.
• Short distances of travel in search of water
• Time-saving for other activities
• The proposed Bori Irrigation project will have a spill-over effect of attracting other developments in the area
• Improved local business in Butiye including sprouting of other supporting businesses
• Emergence of agro-industries and other small-scale businesses in the area.
• Diversification of farm enterprises
• Improved soil fertility by application of organic manure.
5.4.2 Key negative concerns
• Increased incidences of disease outbreak especially water borne and other related
• May increase school drop-out rate for children to be employed as “shamba” boys and also to practice agriculture themselves;
• Increase family breakdown due to economic independence between men and women;
Increase in theft cases;
• May promote alcoholism in the area due to the disposable income at hand;
• Uncontrolled agricultural activities may lead to on-farm soil erosion and water mis-use.
• There is a likely possibility of chemical pollution and consumption of chemicals sprayed on crops.
• Environmental degradation due poor usage of inorganic farm inputs.
• Human-wildlife conflict, the feared wild animal are elephants.
5.4.3 Other issues identified
• The project should be implemented to help farmers improve their socio-economic welfare.
• The project will play a big role in poverty alleviation and developing the economy of the area.
• The project should cover the whole community to ensure equitable development and increased acceptability.
• Training and extension services should be administered to the local community especially on agronomy, soil and water conservation and environmental management.
• The project should provide sufficient water to ensure that farmers meet their agricultural targets all season round.
• The project team should liaise with other stakeholders to improve the state of the infrastructures especially the roads that are in poor state to help farmers market their products.
Environmental Issues
The major environmental problems identified at Bori area were soil erosion and deforestation, attributed by low income, which encourage charcoal burning. Most farms in the area did not have adequate vegetation cover thus exposing soils to elements.
Farming along the stream banks and on water catchment areas is also common among most people living in the area.
6 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN Background
The ESMP is meant to provide guidelines for concerns identified to promote the mitigation of identified adverse effects throughout the design, construction, operation and decommissioning phases to promote sustainability.
Auditing the ESMP
The managers of the project will conduct annual audits to ensure the systems are operating effectively. The audit needs to ensure that the auditing procedure is in place to ensure that: -
• The ESMP being used is up to date,
• Variations to the ESMP and non-compliance and corrective actions are documented
• The appropriate environmental training for personnel is undertaken
• Emergency procedures are in place and effectively communicated to the personnel
• A register of major accidents is in place and other documentation related to the ESMP
• The appropriate corrective and preventive action is taken by the contractor once instructions have been issued.
The environmental management of the proposed project should strengthen the mobilization of the beneficiary communities concerning environmental and health aspects and render the proposed irrigation project sustainable.
Responsibilities
The ESMP has various components with the respective stakeholders involved in the implementation of the corrective actions. Various persons and organizations are to be involved in the project. The following should be involved in the implementation of the ESMP;
• Line ministries
• Various farmer organizations
• The local administration
• Lands Office
• The consultants
• The contractors
Training and Awareness Raising
The raising of awareness is a crucial element in the implementation of the ESMP. All the stakeholders involved in the ESMP need to undergo environmental awareness training to familiarize themselves with ways to handle the resultant effects of the project. Training of all personnel allocated with various responsibilities should be completed before the implementation of the project activities commencement. Training should be aimed at practical aspects of environmental monitoring and management.
6.4.1 Environmental and Social Management Matrix Table 6-1: The ESMP Matrix
Potential
Impact Mitigation Measures Responsibilities Phase Indicator Cost (USD)
Socio-Economic Impacts at the construction phase
Occupational
• -Ensure there is compliance with various health and safety regulations
• -Carry out regular risk assessments of the workplace
• -Establish a standard code of practice for the project workers including drivers and suppliers to promote the safety of the public during the construction activities
• -Install fully equipped first Aid Kits at strategic points at the working areas
• Ensure there are adequate sanitation facilities to be installed on sites
• Warning signs/bumps to be erected and/or placed at risky points - There should be insurance covers for the workers under the workman’s compensation Act
• -Provide adequate emergency procedures for the facility staff;
• Arrange regular emergency drills for staff
• -Install at strategic points enough firefighting equipment
-Contractor At construction phase
-Contractor Number of
Potential
Impact Mitigation Measures Responsibilities Phase Indicator Cost (USD)
• -Organizing community sensitization drives on the prevention and management of the
Environmental Impacts at the construction phase
Water and
• -having workable standard operating procedures while working along with water resources
• -Adhere to waste discharge regulations
• -Compaction of loose material/soils
• -All repairs and maintenance work should be
• Clearing of indigenous trees should be avoided as much as is practically possible
• Limit bush clearing to only pipeline route where possible
• Construction within sensitive habitats should be avoided at all costs
• -Wetlands should be buffered by a minimum
• -Construction zone should be clearly indicated to prevent off site damage
• Modifications of canal routes should be preceded by an ecological survey
• There should be intensive tree planting
• Setting aside woodlands
Construction Waste
• -The wastes produced should either be reduced reused or recycled
• -there should be provision of adequate littering facilities
• -Waste disposal sites should be located away from the water sources to prevent the possibility of potential run off into the water system -Burning of chemical or hazardous wastes should not be done on site -There should be adequate awareness raising on proper solid waste handling and disposal
• -Proper containment and disposal of solid waste at all project phases
Contractor During
Construction
-Number of waste bins installed Frequency of waste collection Quantity of wate generated
150
Oil Spills • The maintenance of vehicle and other machineries should be on designated locations where potential pollution is unlikely such as on concrete platforms
• There should be regular maintenance of machineries to ensure they are in good
-Contractor During
Construction
-Number of
machine services held
Number of spills recorded
200
• There should be adequate operator training to adopt measures that are preventive in use of such machineries
Air and Dust pollution
• -Provide dust masks to workers
• -Sprinkle water on the soil during excavation and land filling;
• -Control speed of working machinery
• Avoid unnecessary engine gunning/revving
• Service construction vehicles/equipment as per manufacturers specifications
• Minimize engine idling time when not in use
-Contractor During
construction
-Number of masks –Frequency of water sprinkling Number of speed bumps erected
200
Noise and Excessive Vibrations
• Abate noise by sensitizing drivers in the project -Use manual labor as much as possible.
• -Restriction of activities to daytime
• Workers within the vicinity of high-level noise to be provided with adequate PPE.
• -No idling of vehicles and machinery if not in use, they should be switched off.
• -Control speed and noise of construction machinery;
• -Insulate noisy machines and activities during construction to minimize noise impact to neighboring communities
-Contractor -Workers
At construction -Number of cases handled
Number of PPE trainings
Noise levels at construction site
200
Water Use conflicts
• -Avail drinking points for the livestock along the canal or build the water pans along the canal
• -Fencing off the farms to prevent animals’
entry into the farms -regular communal discussions and dialogue should be facilitated to bring about mutual agreements between various land users -Other modes of grazing could be encouraged such as zero-grazing as it is less pasture demanding
• -Fodder production can be done on irrigated land to reduce the pressure on the pastoral
Size of land under fodder production animals’ access to water points and also the peoples’ movement during and after canal excavation. The bridges should be put up in such a way that every livestock corridor has a bridge.
• -Unnecessary hooting is to be avoided as much as possible
Socio-Economic Impacts at the Operation Phase
Workers Health and Safety
• There should be adequate PPE for all workers and should be worn all the time.
• There should be adequate provision of the requisite sanitation facilities for human waste disposal control the presence of mosquitoes
• -Mosquito nets should be adequately supplied and at subsidized prices -the groundwater abstracted for domestic use should be boiled or be treated
Irrigation
Environmental Impacts at the Operation Phase Water Quality
Degradation
• The farmers should work with the local Agricultural Officers so that they can be trained on the safe use of agrochemicals to ensure that they apply the right amounts, and prevent pollution water
WRA Operation and
• The right amounts of fertilizer application should be used to prevent potential for excess quantities getting washed into the surface waters and from infiltrating into the groundwater resources
• Waste management should be adequately streamlined to prevent the release of effluents into the environment
Water-Logging, Soil Salinization and
sedimentation and Nutrient Leaching
• The use of fertilizer should be regulated and should be as is recommended by the SCAO,
• The promotion of organic manure in place of fertilizers should be intensified
• Project to incorporate a component on irrigation water management training, coupled with installation of water use control and regulation meters to curtail over-irrigation
• Control of the amount of water abstracted from the river through appropriate design of the intake to include facilities for regulating canal discharge
• Installation of appropriate drainage channels to drain any excess water from the farms and to carry away excess agro-chemicals
Farmers Operation and
maintenance
Soil PH Nitrates level
Number of de-siltations Quantity of fertilizers used
1000
implementation and with every annual audit
• Afforestation and vegetation growth should be encouraged especially along the river banks
• The intakes and canals should be desilted
• The maintenance and operation of the irrigation infrastructure should be maintained regularly to ensure that localized irrigation does not occur
• Cultivation limits to the river systems should be identified and adhered to strictly.
• % Use of Fertilizer, Pesticides & Training in Agrochemical usage
Increased waste generation
-Proper identification of all waste streams thus management to involve reduce, re-use and recycle.
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) should be adopted for working in and near water to avoid water pollution from liquid waste
-Project Proponent Farmers
During operation Quantity of agricultural waste (agrochemical containers)
Number of waste streams
200
6.4.2 Environmental and Social Monitoring Matrix Table 6-2: Environmental and Social Monitoring Matrix
Key
River flows Discharge, sediment loads
Changes in soil structure Soil texture, aggregate
Key
Total area of tree cover lost
ESMP Monitoring
There should be continuous monitoring and follow-up on the project activities to ensure that the ESMP is implemented and that its objectives are achieved. The implementing staff, the community, and the contractor should ensure that the mitigation measures are put in place as outlined in the ESMP. The monitoring guidelines are based on the following parameters:
• Improved vegetation cover
• Increased potential of the various water springs,
• Preservation of species in synergy with the water springs
• Level of coliform and other bacteria in the sampled water not to forget the ppm solid elements
• Severity watershed encroachment
• Public safety and health awareness
• Malaria and other social disease prevention and control systems in place
• Livestock – wildlife-human conflicts management
• Safety of equipment and property
• Capacity building and skills improvement of water users
Figure 6-1: Institutional Arrangements ESMP Implementation 6.6.1 Institutional Arrangements
National Level and County Level Structure
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
Project Steering Committee
National Program Coordination Unit (NPCU)
• Project Coordinator
• Water/ Irrigation Engineer
• Livestock Specialist
• Environment & Climate Change
• Environment & Climate Change