Entrench environmental conservation

The environment has been in the news recently. It is not always that environmental conservation receives prominence in news coverage. To have sustained focus on the issue is useful.

It brings public spotlight into a critical aspect of the country’s development agenda. Without sound environmental policies and concerted action, the country will continue to pay dearly.

The Solai dam disaster and the ongoing forest conservation efforts demonstrate the dangers of short-term and populist action oblivious of the dangers to the environment and lives of human beings.

When the Solai dam disaster happened, I found myself in a social media debate with someone who is passionate about disaster management. The last time we had a conversation with him on this topic was in 2013 when he optimistically explained to me the plans to set up a disaster management agency by government. He was then advising government. He intimated that in a matter of months, the displacements that were then publicly reported in sections of the country would not only have been responded to adequately, but that such lacklustrr response to national disasters would be a thing of the past.

Five years later we revisited the debate in the context of the Solai dam disaster. He was less enthusiastic. Indeed, he was unhappy at how the agencies responsible for preventing the tragedy had failed Kenyans. A few minutes after our conversation, I came across a complaint from Koigi Wamwere. He was livid about the deaths , pointing out that he had raised concerns about it when he was member of parliament. His complaints, however, felt on death ears.

The gist of the two complaints was the effect of corruption on decisions that affect the environment. The events at Solai could have been prevented, if only public agencies performed their statutory duties.

Instead, what you see is reactive actions and long statements backdating their responses. Statements pointing out that they had pointed out dangers and required corrective action several months prior to the event. What they do not state is why they did not follow on their communication.

Similarly, the Task Force appointed by the Cabinet Secretary responsible for Environment and Forestry submitted their report recently. The report received wide publicity. The highlight of the report was allegations of corruption by those responsible for conserving the country’s forest resources.

These two events demonstrate the challenges with Kenya’s conservation efforts. Despite the acknowledged importance of the environment and the need for its conservation, our actions as a country do not match our statements. If we look at important international conferences, including the Stockholm Conference of 1972 and the Rio Conferences of 1992 and 2012 respectively, one will discover that Kenya is an active participant and contributor. Added onto the fact that we host the United Nations Environment, the agency responsible for managing efforts towards management of the environment globally, one sees evidence of commitment. Taken together with the fact that the country has a Constitution , which in all aspects is a Green Constitution, the above events can at first instance be baffling.

However, they are demonstrative of where our environmental conservations challenges as a country lie. It does not help to actively engage in international discourse, pass laws and policies, make pronouncements at rallies and other public functions, when the institutions and public officials charged with the task of leading our conservation efforts take no serious action to promote the dictates of environmental management.

Citizens have increasingly become enlightened. They are able to see when all they are being served is some populist statements without a commitment to make a difference. It is time that action was seen in the environment sector. Year in year out the country is treated to disasters that derive from the use of the environment.

The cycle of drought and floods have become too predictable to be a disaster any longer. It is high time that the government put to task all the institutions with responsibilities for dealing with the issues relating to floods, drought and other disasters.
It is high time that we appreciated that the environment is important for our national development. Treat it well and it shall support our livelihoods. Mistreat it and we will continue to experience disaster after disaster. The country cannot afford this, for it is akin to playing Russian roulette with lives and livelihoods.