20.0 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT

The Democratic Party of Kenya recognizes the importance of National resources and the conservation of the environment. The proper utilization and conservation of natural resources contribute greatly to sustainable economic development. There is therefore need to put up measures for the protection and conservation of the environment. A key institution for the conservation and prevention of environment is the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) set up to enforce environmental standards. The Authority also undertakes inventories of the Country’s natural resources and valuation. NEMA also undertakes Impact Assessment on investment projects in the Country. Forests form part of the natural resources and there is need to protect forests. The Country has suffered from destruction of trees in our forests without equal growing of the same. The forests have not been demarcated and have in the past been allocated to individual developers.

The wildlife in game parks and reserves play a key role in the National economy as we are endowed with wildlife species that are not available in most of other countries. The Country earns a lot of foreign exchange from tourism in addition to employment creation and poverty reduction. The game in the farm land and ranches is particularly a menace posing conflict between humans and the wild life. However there is significant potential in exploiting these resources through game ranching and conservation and rearing some special wild animals such as crocodiles, snakes and ostrich. NEMA has not imposed adequate deterrent measures to reduce such pollutions. Other constraints that have affected natural resources and environment include: human-wildlife conflicts and over harvesting of forests. The water catchment areas and landscapes have been degraded due to over exploitation of forests and overgrazing with resultant floods, droughts, beach erosion among others. The rivers that were permanent are now only able to flow in the rainy season. In addition the industrial sector has also contributed to the damage of the environment through chemical and other manufacturing, chemical and products waste disposal and air pollution. This is despite the fact the Government has enacted a National Environment Policy and a National Environment Action Plan which lays down the foundation for coordinated, multi-sectoral action to address the challenges of degradation.

In order to improve the utilization of our natural resources and to protect our environment the DP Government will implement the following measures:

1. Build capacity of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to enable it fulfill its mandate by establishing offices and deploying personnel in all districts.

2. Enact an afforestation policy that will implement afforestation even in areas which are now classified as semi arid or dry lands

3. Capacities of the Kenya Wildlife Services to enable it to undertake wildlife conservation.

4. Build the capacity of the Kenya Forest Services including the creation of a fund to conserve and protect the forests.

5. Increase the budgetary allocation for conservation by establishing a conservation and afforestation fund.

6. Demarcate all forest land.

7. Create incentives for commercial tree planting and growing and agro-forestry farming.

8. Conserve and develop the wetlands.

9. Ensure that human settlements and environment conservation do not conflict.

10. Develop policies for harvesting rain water.

11. Make a total ban on the use of polythene papers.

12. Promote agro forestry.