The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has opened a 30-day public participation exercise on plans to set up two major manufacturing plants in Kitui and Nyeri counties.
In notices published last week, NEMA said a private developer is seeking approval to establish a lime processing plant in Kitui County and a cement manufacturing plant in Nyeri County.
The authority is now calling on members of the public to give their views before a final decision is made on the projects.
According to NEMA, the proposed factories are expected to have environmental and social impacts during both construction and operation stages.
Residents have been invited to submit comments or concerns on issues such as noise, pollution, blasting activities and possible effects on surrounding communities.
“Members of the public are invited to submit oral or written comments within thirty days from the date of publication,” NEMA said in the notice.
The first project is planned for the Ekani area in Kitui South Sub-County, where the developer intends to build a large lime processing plant together with quarrying operations.
The proposed facility will include lime processing units, calcination kilns, storage areas and workers’ facilities.
In Nyeri County, the company plans to put up a cement and related products manufacturing plant in Lusoi area within Kieni Sub-County.
It is projected that the Nyeri project will incorporate limestone crushing plants, storage silos, packing facilities and distribution stores.
According to NEMA, due to the magnitude of the projects, there will be strict environmental conditions which will have to be fulfilled prior and during the period of the constructions.
One such requirement is the community notice program, whereby people living near the area of the proposed project will have to be notified at least 48 hours prior to the blasting of the sites.
This step will help mitigate the possible hazards and minimize conflicts between the company and the people surrounding the areas.
Public interested in the reports of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessments can get the documents at the following offices; those of NEMA, the Ministry of Environment in Nairobi, and the counties of Kitui and Nyeri.
These reports will be used to make the final determination regarding the future of these projects.