NEMA Firm of Experts
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Kenya
Before many developments can start, Kenyan law requires an environmental impact assessment approved by NEMA. We prepare the project report or full study report, run the public participation, and follow the file through NEMA until your EIA licence is issued.
Overview
What is an EIA?
An EIA is a structured study of how a proposed project will affect land, water, air, ecosystems and neighbouring communities, and what the developer will do to avoid, reduce or manage those effects.
It is required under the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA) and the Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations. Depending on the risk category of the project, NEMA expects either a project report or a full EIA study report.
Who needs it
Typical clients
- Residential and commercial developments
- Hotels, lodges and resorts
- Roads, bridges and infrastructure
- Quarries and mining operations
- Water, sanitation and energy projects
- Factories and agro-processing plants
- Farms, irrigation and livestock facilities
- Schools, hospitals and institutions
What you receive
Our deliverables
Screening and scoping to confirm the right level of study
Baseline survey of site, biodiversity, water, air quality and noise
Public participation and stakeholder consultation records
Impact assessment and Environmental Management Plan
Project report or EIA study report in NEMA format
Submission, follow-up and response to NEMA comments
Process
How we take you to approval
Screening and scoping
We confirm what your project needs and agree scope, cost and timeline.
Study and field work
Baseline surveys, impact assessment and a management plan written by registered experts.
Public participation
Consultation with neighbours and stakeholders, documented to NEMA's expectations.
Submission to NEMA
We lodge the report and answer NEMA's queries until the review is complete.
Licence and compliance
You receive your licence, and we support audits and monitoring afterwards.
Questions
EIA frequently asked questions
For projects listed in the Second Schedule of EMCA, yes. Work should not begin until NEMA has issued the licence. If you are unsure whether your project is covered, we can screen it for you before you spend anything on design or site work.
NEMA classifies projects by risk. Lower and medium risk projects are generally handled through a project report. High risk projects need a full EIA study report with a wider scope. We confirm the category at the start so you know exactly what is required.
Reports submitted to NEMA must be prepared by experts registered with NEMA, either as individual experts or as a firm of experts. Utafiti International is registered as a firm of experts.
It depends on the size of the project, the season for field work, the public participation period and NEMA's review. We give you a realistic timeline once scoping is complete and keep you updated at each stage.
This page is a general guide. Requirements depend on your project, and we confirm them before you commit to anything.
Related
Other NEMA services
ESIA
Combined environmental and social studies for projects with lenders, donors or community impact.
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Annual and control audits that keep licensed and existing facilities compliant with NEMA.
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Environmental assessment of policies, plans and programmes for government and development partners.
Read moreStart your EIA with registered experts
Send us the project details and we will confirm the scope, cost and timeline.