The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has announced it has so far mapped 12,300 wetlands across the country.
The authority made the information public in a brief to Environment, Climate Change and Forestry CS Aden Duale.
The mapping followed President William Ruto’s directive last year that wetlands and any water towers in Kenya be secured and gazetted.
In November 2023, the government embarked on a journey to rehabilitate wetlands in the county.
President Ruto insisted that at least 10,000 wetlands in Kenya must be protected from human activities such as settlement and destruction of trees.
Duale encouraged NEMA to continue updating the wetlands list for appropriate action to be taken.
The CS spoke on Wednesday when he made his inaugural visit to NEMA headquarters in South C, Nairobi, accompanied by Principal Secretary Festus Ngeno.
During the visit, he also held a meeting with the Board of Directors, Management and staff.
Duale urged the Authority to enhance its revenue collection to be able to cater for its operations and discharge optimal services to the public.
"Nema must enforce the law to ensure the environment is protected and safeguarded. All facilities in the 47 Counties must be brought under compliance," he said.
On Wednesday, Duale also directed NEMA to write to the institutions to dispose of the hazardous fibrous minerals.
Asbestos fibres may cause serious lung diseases, including asbestosis and cancer.
Smoking also increases the risk of developing illness from asbestos exposure.
Asbestos is a group of six fibrous minerals occurring naturally in metamorphic deposits worldwide.
