Civil Society Flags Major Gaps in ESIA for Proposed Elementaita Quarry Project

The proposed establishment of a quarry and contractor’s camp in Elementaita to supply materials for the Nairobi - Nakuru - Mau Summit Highway has drawn serious concern from environmental civil society actors. In a memorandum submitted to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in April 2022, the National Environment Civil Society Alliance of Kenya (NECSA-K) raised extensive reservations about the adequacy, completeness, and credibility of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study report prepared for the project.  The umbrella body representing over 100 civil society organizations working in environment and natural resources management, acknowledges the national importance of the Nairobi - Nakuru - Mau Summit Highway in the memorandum filed to NEMA while emphasizing that the sourcing of construction materials - particularly through quarrying in ecologically sensitive areas such as Elementaita - must comply strictly with environmental and social safeguards.

Concerns Raised Over the Proposed 60MW Wind Farm Project in Samburu, Kwale County

Kwale County Natural Resources Network (KCNRN) is a consortium of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and individuals spanning across Kwale County. The Network provides a platform for her members to articulate, lobby and advocate for issues on the environment and natural resources management. Following a three-day consultative meeting and a site visit conducted on 13 September 2022, the Network submitted a memorandum to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) highlighting serious deficiencies in the EIA Study Report submitted by the project proponent.

Civil Society Submission on the Nairobi Securities Exchange ESG Disclosure Guidance Manual

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting has become a central pillar of modern capital markets, shaping investor confidence, regulatory oversight, and sustainable development outcomes. In Kenya, the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) has taken an important step toward institutionalizing sustainability by developing an ESG Disclosure Guidance Manual for listed companies. Following this, the National Environment Civil Society Alliance of Kenya (NECSA-K) developed and submitted a detailed memorandum that identifies critical gaps which must be addressed if ESG reporting is to move beyond voluntary compliance and deliver real environmental and social accountability. NECSA-K, an umbrella platform representing 100+ civil society organizations working on environmental and natural resource governance, broadly welcomes the NSE initiative noting that the manual requires substantial strengthening. Its proposals focus on legal alignment, institutional capacity, independent verification, and meaningful stakeholder engagement.

NECSA KENYA COMMENTS ON IFC BLUE ECONOMY FINANCING FRAMEWORK

NECSA Kenya notes a tendency to narrowly define the Blue Economy as ocean focused. While oceans are central, inland water bodies such as rivers, lakes, wetlands, springs, and water towers, are equally vital and deserve explicit inclusion in blue financing. These systems support drinking water supply, agriculture, biodiversity, and urban resilience, yet remain highly vulnerable to pollution, encroachment, and climate impacts.

Inside the Usahihi Expressway Rapid Risk Assessment

Kenya’s busiest transport artery, the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway (A109), is set for a major transformation. Through a 30-year Public–Private Partnership between KeNHA and Everstrong Capital’s subsidiary, USAHIHI Expressway Ltd., the government plans to construct a new 444-kilometre, four-lane dual carriageway from Athi River to Mariakani. Framed as a flagship connector between the port city and the capital, the Nairobi–Mombasa Expressway (NME) promises to cut travel time by half, improve freight efficiency, reduce accidents, and support regional trade. But beneath the promise lies an urgent need for scrutiny. A Rapid Risk Assessment (RRA) conducted by NECSA-K and WWF-Kenya reveals major ecological, social, cultural, and economic risks that require strategic planning, transparency, and meaningful community participation. This article synthesizes the findings — highlighting what Kenya stands to gain, what it risks losing, and what must be done to ensure the expressway is built responsibly.

Inside the Rapid Risk Assessment of the Rironi- Mau Summit A8 Highway

Kenya is entering a new era of infrastructure expansion and one of the biggest projects, is the proposed upgrade of one of its busiest transport arteries — the Rironi–Naivasha–Nakuru–Mau Summit Highway (A8/A8 South). Stretching along the Northern Corridor, the road connects Nairobi to western Kenya, Uganda, and the Great Lakes region, serving millions of residents and forming the backbone of East Africa’s trade system. The Government of Kenya, through the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), aims to dual the 233-kilometre corridor into a modern four-lane expressway, built and operated through a 30-year Public–Private Partnership (PPP). The project promises faster travel, improved safety, reduced congestion, new jobs, and enhanced market access. Yet, it also raises serious concerns about ecological degradation, social displacement, cultural loss, tolling affordability, and governance transparency. A Rapid Risk Assessment conducted by the National Environment Civil Society Alliance of Kenya (NECSA-K) and WWF-Kenya offers a detailed, evidence-based view of the project’s risks, opportunities, and what must be done to ensure that this road delivers development without sacrificing Kenya’s environment, heritage, and communities.

Inside the Rapid Risk Assessment of the Naivasha–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway

Kenya’s long-term development blueprint, Vision 2030, places infrastructure at the heart of national transformation. Among the flagship investments, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has remained one of the most ambitious undertakings—promising cheaper transport, decongested roads, and a more competitive regional logistics ecosystem. With the Mombasa–Nairobi and Nairobi–Naivasha sections operational, attention has now shifted to the next major extension: the Naivasha - Kisumu - Malaba SGR, a 475-kilometre corridor expected to link Kenya’s interior to Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the wider EAC region. To guide the government and the public on the risks and safeguards needed, the National Environment Civil Society Alliance of Kenya (NECSA-K) conducted a detailed Rapid Risk Assessment across the eight counties that the line will traverse. Using GIS analysis, field visits, stakeholder consultations, and legacy lessons from Phase 1 of the SGR, the assessment highlights both the immense potential of the project and the serious environmental and social risks that require immediate attention.

NECSA KENYA MEMORANDUM ON DRAFT NATIONAL GUIDELINES ON MINING IN KENYA

The three guidelines under review offer a unique opportunity to operationalize Kenya’s mining reforms while placing environmental integrity, community rights, climate resilience, and social justice at the center of sector governance. NECSA-K remains committed to supporting this process and advancing a mining sector that is transparent, sustainable, and beneficial to present and future generations.