6. Environment and Natural Resources

Kenya, like the rest of the world faces the increasing threat from the effects of global warming and other man-made environmental abuses. For life to continue, environmentalism, which is based on a fundamental understanding of the interaction between the human and the natural, is vitally important. Further, environmental concerns ought to inform every national policy and such concerns must go beyond conserving natural resources to enriching and enhancing the fundamental welfare of the people and the communities in which they live. In addition, since the environment is a natural and common resource which must be protected by all, proper safeguards for the conservation of natural resources are paramount when considering economic development. FORD People will secure a policy that champions sustainable exploitation, utilization, management and conservation of the environment and natural resources for the benefit of the present as well as future generations. In order to achieve these good intentions, a FORD-People led government will put in place the following:

▪ Enact legislation to regulate sustainable exploitation, utilization, management and equitable sharing of benefits from natural resources.

▪ Prevent, stop or discontinue any acts or omissions which are harmful to the environment and make all efforts to maintain a clean, safe and healthy environment.

▪ Endeavour to maintain a forest cover of at least 10% of all Kenyan land for proper ecological balance.

▪ Put in place a policy and legislative framework that provides for responsible management of our natural resources for the benefit of the present and future Kenyan generations.

▪ Promote the use of social and cultural values that were traditionally used by various communities and applied for the sustainable management of the environment and natural resources.

▪ Domesticate appropriate international and bilateral agreements for the protection and preservation of the environment.

▪ Regulate waste disposal, prevent pollution and ecological degradation by encouraging the recycling of materials and banning the production of polythene bags and other items that cannot be recycled.

▪ Put in place tighter controls on the dumping of toxic waste together with harsher penalties for those convicted of environmental and ecological degradation, river pollution and illegal dumping.

▪ Promote energy saving measures and encourage use of alternative energy sources such as solar, wind and biogas.

▪ Educate the public on the benefits of respecting the integrity of natural processes and ecological communities, including the conservation of wetlands, water catchments areas, habitats and species.

▪ Allocate funds for the rehabilitation and development of degraded areas and those prone to natural disasters such as floods and mudslides in efforts to improve the life of the inhabitants and make the areas productive

▪ Maximize the potential for the sustainable utilization of the country’s flora and fauna to foster both domestic and foreign tourism.