LAPSSET STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NEARS COMPLETION

In December 2015, The LAPSSET Corridor Development embarked on the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the LAPSSET projects. LCDA is happy to inform that, having undertaken all the necessary legal requirements and guidelines that the SEA is in the final stage where the final SEA report is expected.
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a systematic decision support process, aiming to ensure that environmental and possibly other sustainability aspects are considered effectively in policy, plan, and Programme making.
Importance of SEA in the LAPSSET Program
The LAPSSET Corridor Infrastructure is of great magnitude with the trunk infrastructure traversing various parts of the country and various lone components in specific sites. It is expected that the development of the projects will have environmental impacts. Therefore, the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority embarked on the Strategic Environmental Assessment activity to assess the extent of the environmental impact expected and to develop programs and policies that will minimize the environmental effects and result in sustainable development.
This is geared towards ensuring compliance to both the National Constitution and reigning environmental legislation, the LAPSSET Corridor Infrastructure Development Project (LCIDP) has been subjected to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Study conducted as per Legal Notice 101 of June 2003 and the Guidelines for Strategic Environmental Assessment issued by NEMA in 2014.
Objectives of SEA
LAPSSET is conceived as a Transport Corridor aimed at driving economic transformation and mainstreaming of Northern Kenya into the national economy. The corridor will also plays a role as an economic enabler targeting to open up the Northern Kenya to investment and trade while linking up the same to local and offshore markets in line with aspirations of the Economic Pillar of the Vision 2030. In line with such economic transformation goals, specific objectives of the SEA for LAPSSET have been identified as follows:-
         i. To identify key strategic resources and linkages between environmental protection and economic growth in areas to be influenced by LCIDP;
         ii. To assess likely significant effects of LCIDP development on such resources;
         iii. To formulate a set of measures to address these priority concerns and to take advantage of opportunities that will emerge from LCIDP,      considering institutional and financial conditions needed for implementing such proposal; and,
         iv. To recommend mechanisms for reducing environmental and social costs associated with achievement of the economic goals of LCIDP including measures that will enable future adjustments to maintain and promote sustainable and equitable growth in response to anticipated development of the LCIDP inclusive of the Economic Corridor.
So far the SEA exercise has achieved the following milestones:
      i) Screening and Scoping Stages completed;
      ii) TORs and CVs for the SEA Team approved by NEMA (References);
      iii) Field work for Detailed SEA Study completed;
      iv) Draft Final SEA Report submitted to NEMA;
      v) Same report is currently under review;
      vi) Disclosure and Public Review process underway (DN of 13th Feb, KGN of 3rd March);
      vii) Validation workshops undertaken;
      viii) Final SEA report outstanding.
The LAPSSET Program is a foundational part of the Vision 2030 Blue print. By conducting the SEA, LCDA is ensuring that the projects abide by the provision of the Social Pillar of Kenya Vision 2030 that demands development in a clean secure environment for all citizens as essentially guaranteed by the National Constitution 2010 and the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) and its 2015 revision-the Environmental Management and Coordination (Amendment) Act.