Dr Deborah Barasa has taken over the helm Environment Ministry, pledging to capitalize on the solid foundation left behind by her predecessors.
Speaking shortly after taking over from Aden Duale at the Ministry, Barasa said a healthy environment is the ultimate bedrock of any nation’s survival and prosperity, Kenya included.
“To my predecessor, CS Aden Duale, your notably worthy leadership in this docket has set a high bar and built a firm foundation that I intend to build a lasting legacy on. In the spirit of collective responsibility and goodwill, may I hasten to celebrate my Cabinet colleague and friend CS Duale for making bold strides in this docket during his tenure here,” Barasa said.
Barasa said under Duale’s leadership, Kenya accelerated its 15 billion trees program and championed policies to combat illegal logging and plastic pollution.
She said Duale’s collaboration with county governments to restore and protect critical water catchment areas has safeguarded water security for millions.
Barasa thanked the ministry staff, development partners, the Kenya Forest Service, NGOs and all Kenyans who care for the environment, saying their dedication has set our people on the right path towards a green revolution.
She said Kenya’s ecological endowments, from the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya to the coral reefs of the Indian Ocean, are nature’s gifts that must be fiercely protected.
“Aware of the challenges that call for action in the foreseeable future, I pledge to lead this docket’s agenda in close collaboration with Ministry staff, communities, development partners and other stakeholders with three guiding principles - urgency, inclusion, and innovation,” Barasa said.
She said that she will prioritise the implementation of the National Climate Change Action Plan.
“In the guiding principle of One Government Approach and through climate-smart agriculture, rainwater harvesting and renewable energy projects, I do not doubt that we will empower farmers and pastoralists alike across Kenya to adapt and thrive.”
Kabeyi pledged to expand the 15 billion Trees Programme to plant as many trees as space and favourable weather will allow, with a focus being given to indigenous species.
Duale said they lived up to this promise by working with the support of the two Principal Secretaries in the last eight months. Duale said that in December last year, just four months after joining the Ministry, he successfully facilitated the publication and approval of six Regulations under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA), 1999.
These include Water Quality; Waste Management; Sand Harvesting; Air Quality; Management and Control of Plastic Packaging Materials; and the Management of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Materials Regulations and one Regulation under Sustainable Waste Management Act — the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations — that were pending since the enactment of the EMCA Act in 2009 (amended in 2015).
Duale said the seven Regulations are now operational and will bring additional revenue in Appropriation in aid of up to Sh16bn annually at the beginning and up to Sh50bn when all the Regulations are fully operationalized, allowing the National Regulator Nema to be self-sufficient and not dependent on the exchequer.
“The other four Regulations have been published, and I have tabled them before the Delegated Committee on Legislation of the Senate and the National Assembly for scrutiny. This is a total of 11 Regulations, all of which are essential for protecting and conserving our environment while also generating revenue for the country.”
