Recently recognised as the UN Person of the Year, Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has grown to become an internationally recognised body through its visionary goals, highly impactful projects, and strides towards environmental sustainability.
Established in 1999 under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) of 1999, the agency is mandated to ensure the sustainable management of the environment and natural resources in Kenya. The Authority is also responsible for the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, and the promotion of public awareness and participation in environmental management has gone a long to the arrest of environmental defaulters.
The agency also works to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of ecosystems. NEMA Kenya also works to ensure the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations and to promote public participation in environmental management.
The Authority’s functions also include coordinating the various environmental management activities being undertaken by the lead agencies, Promoting the integration of environmental considerations into development policies, plans, programmes and projects, with a view to ensuring the proper management and rational utilization of environmental resources, on a sustainable yield basis, for the improvement of the quality of human life in Kenya.
Taking stock of the natural resources in the country, their utilization and conservation, establishing and reviewing land use guidelines, carry out surveys, which will assist in the proper management and conservation of the environment.
NEMA also acts as an advisor to the Government on legislative and other measures for the management of the environment or the implementation of relevant international conventions, treaties and agreements.
The Authority advises the Government on regional and international conventions, treaties and agreements to which Kenya should be a party and follow up on the implementation of such agreements.
Over the years, NEMA has implemented a number of projects, in 2017, the authority enforced the rule of the ‘NO USE OF POLYPROPYLENE CARRIER’, placing a total ban on the use of plastic for a much healthier ecosystem. This is one of the most impactful projects by the Authority. The ban on plastic carrier bags was a key player in working towards the historic plastic resolution adopted by UN member states in March 2022 and was hailed as the biggest moment for the environment since the Paris Agreement.
NEMA is Kenya’s first national institution to scoop the UN person of the year award. The Authority has continuously enforced the ban by working with 47 County Governments. According to the DG, the Authority has gazetted over 200 environmental inspectors in the Counties to support the enforcement actions. In a quest to promote the total eradication of the domestic use of plastics, the Director General, Mamo Boru Mamo among other projects have led the piloting of biodegradable bags used to plant tree seedlings as opposed to plastic bags which takes many years to degrade once disposed into the environment during planting.
35% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared in the last 50 years, the report revealed. As part of the global most valuable ecosystem for people and nature, the Authority through these years have intensively been enforcing education on the need to accelerate actions to protect the Sustainable Development Goals in Kenya.
The Authority has also been known for its Mombasa International ASK Show stand which seeks to educate the public more about environmental management in Kenya.
NEMA with a lot of other decisive initiatives has created a safe atmosphere and friendly environment.
As a result of these remarkable achievements, the Authority has received other several awards including, Strategic Development Goals (SDGs) Reporting and Implementation, 1st Runners-Up for Yr. 2021, Public Sector Legal Department of the Year 2021 by the Nairobi Legal Awards, Africa’s Environmental Regulator of the Year 2022.
NEMA Director General, Mamo B. Mamo was also recognised, as Africa’s Public Sector CEO of the Year and also named as one of Africa’s top 50 public Sector leaders during the 3rd Africa Public Sector Conference & Awards in Accra Ghana in 2022.
It is no surprise the level of success NEMA has chalked in the last year, considering the kind of leadership the authority is blessed with. Mamo Boru Mamo, the authority’s DG, has over 25 years of experience in public service with 18 years of work experience at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), having grown through the ranks to the position of Director General. Mamo was appointed the Acting Director General in February 2019. He was appointed substantively as the Director General on 13th August 2020 through a competitive process. In February 2022, Mamo was recognized by H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta with Elder of Burning Spear (EBS) for his immense contribution to Environmental Conservation in Kenya.
By: Public Sector Global Magazine
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