Environment Committee Engages Stakeholders On The Environmental Professional Institute Of Kenya Bill No. 36 Of 2024 As PS Ng’eno Dismisses The Bill
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Environment Forestry and Mining chaired by Mwala legislator Vincent Musyoka has today engaged proponents of the Environmental Professionals institute of Kenya, National Assembly Bill No. 36 of 2024 that seeks the establishment of a professional body that will regulate the sector and consequently seal all loopholes in the environmental field.
The Committee started by engaging the Chairman of the Environmental Institute of Kenya (EIK), and his members among them a renowned scholar and environmental expert Prof. Ratemo Michieka who pleaded with the Committee to help push for the enactment of the Bill into a piece of legislation that will establish well defined structures for environmental professionals.
Prof. Michieka in his written submission before the Committee said that the Environmental Professionals Institute of Kenya Bill is necessary and long-overdue step in ensuring that all environmental professionals are recognised, regulated and held to the highest professional and ethical standards.
“This Bill will create a well-structured professional framework that ensures that competent practice in critical environmental fields including but not limited to; environmental management, environmental sciences, waste management, Wildlife, Climate Change adaptation and mitigation, water resource management among others”, he explained.
However the PS in-charge of the State Department for Environment and Climate Change Eng. Festus Ng’eno while appearing on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Bare Duale, opposed to the Bill in its entirety saying the proposed provisions are already legislated under the Environmental Act, (EMCA).
“Hon. Members, allow me to reiterate that the environmental professionals – Environmental Assessment Experts – as regulated by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) under EMCA, and its subsidiary legislation is sufficient and NEMA has made strides towards improving the profession”, PS Ng’eno.
“This Honourable Committee have the responsibility to ensure that laws we pass are well thought out, are not in conflict with existing laws, equitable and just for all members of the society inorder to ensure sustainable and healthy environment for all Kenyans as provided in the Constitution”, added PS Ng’eno.
The Committee Chairperson Hon. Vincent Musyoka suggested that there was need for the institute and NEMA to combine their thoughts for the benefit of the Committee. He further directed that both sides share any additional submissions incase there is any.
Hon. Charles Kamuren Vice Chairperson and other Committee Members agreed with the Chair and asked that additional views are submitted to the Committee from the professionals themselves who are the consumers of this private Bill sponsored by Hon. George Gachagua (Ndaragua).
The Committee closed the day by receiving views on the Metrology Bill (Senate Bill No. 45) 2023. The PS in the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Hon. Geoffrey Kaituko appeared before the Committee in praise of the Metrology Bill which he said will bring sanity in the sector and also reduce the economic burden brought about by the many days ships spend at the port. He however proposed amendments on some Clouses.
Separately, the Director General of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) Mr. Emile Arao also appeared and sought for the exclusion of Meteorology Services for Air Navigation from the Metrology Bill. He told the lawmakers that the World Meteorological Organization Technical Regulations Volume II, Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation was discontinued on 31st December, 2023 and ICAO Annex 3 to the convention on international civil aviation – Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation, is currently in force. The Regulatory material contained in ICAO Annex 3 is identical with that appearing in the Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49) Volume II – Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation, Parts I and II. He also mentioned that the Aviation industry is well taken care of, under their Act and currently existing regulations both locally and internationally, that their inclusion in the Bill will have some negative consequences on the international arena.
The Committee will be making a decision on the request by KCAA as they look forward to meeting more stakeholders tomorrow on the two Bills before the Committee.
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