Affordable housing programmes could have adverse effects on the environment as demand for construction materials soars.
The National Environment Civil Society Alliance of Kenya (NECSA Kenya) has warned of environmental disasters and mass displacement of families in areas earmarked for the project.
This came as the alliance noted that the government was keen on job and revenue creation in the project while disregarding environmental effects.
This emerged when the alliance in collaboration with WWF-Kenya presented its memorandum in Naivasha on the affordable housing bill of 2023.
Addressing the press in Naivasha the alliance Chair Dominic Walubengo said that resources like water, timber and sand could be adversely affected by the project.
He expressed fears that gains made in protecting and increasing the country’s forest cover would go to waste as demand for timber products increased.
“Though the courts have stopped the implementation of the levy, we fear that in future this project, if passed by parliament, will have massive effects on the environment,” he said.
He said that the Bill should be taken through a strategic environmental assessment (SEA), to determine the probable impact of the programme on communities and the environment.
“Infrastructure development places immense pressure on the environment due to the demand for natural resources such as water, sand, land, timber, and quarry stones,” he said.
Walubengo added that some communities like Kericho faced eviction to pave the way for the project noting that many could turn to forest produce for survival.
On her part, Winnie Tubei called for an environmental assessment before the projects were carried out while wondering where the massive resources would come from.
She wondered how sustainable the multi-billion project was at a time that the country was grappling with the effects of climate change.
“This is a major infrastructure project that could have massive effects on the environment and thousands of people across the country,” she said.
A member of the alliance Moses Siro said that the bill had grey areas noting that the rich could be the major beneficiaries of the project.
“The bill should make sure that these houses have adequate and clean sources of energy like solar and water as part of addressing sanitation issues,” he said.
This was echoed by High Court advocate Brian Onderi who welcomed the ruling by the Court of Appeal adding that the Bill should now encompass environmental views.
