The government has moved closer to finalizing the review of the National Environment Policy, 2013, following a Technical Working Group (TWG) workshop convened today to validate the first draft of the revised policy. The workshop, organized by the State Department for Environment and Climate Change, UNDP Kenya, and CEJAD at a Nairobi hotel, brought together stakeholders from government, non-governmental organizations, and other institutions involved in environmental governance to review the draft and provide technical input before the policy progresses to the next stage. The session was opened by Ms. Linah Meeme, Head of the Legal Unit at the State Department for Environment and Climate Change, who underscored the importance of the validation process in ensuring that the revised policy provides a comprehensive and responsive framework for addressing Kenya’s current and emerging environmental priorities.
The validation follows earlier technical work undertaken in the review process, including the development and consideration of the zero draft. During the session, participants reviewed the first draft through breakout technical working groups before presenting their recommendations in plenary. The review of the National Environment Policy seeks to update the country’s environmental policy framework to respond to evolving environmental and development priorities, emerging challenges such as El Niño, and changes in the legal and institutional landscape. The revised policy is expected to provide an updated framework for environmental governance and sustainable management of the country’s natural resources, while strengthening the integration of environmental considerations into national and county development planning.
Following the breakout sessions, the technical teams presented their recommendations in plenary for collective consideration. Comments and recommendations arising from the validation exercise will be incorporated to further strengthen the draft policy. The validation of the first draft marks another milestone in the review process as the State Department works towards developing an updated National Environment Policy that responds effectively to current and emerging environmental challenges and supports Kenya’s sustainable development aspirations.
The workshop highlighted the collaborative efforts of multiple stakeholders in shaping a policy that aligns with Kenya’s environmental and developmental goals. By incorporating technical feedback and ensuring broad participation, the process aims to create a robust policy framework that addresses pressing issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource management. The next steps involve refining the draft based on the input received, with the goal of finalizing the policy in the near future.