The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) on Tuesday, January 3, announced the suspension of the Registration of Environmental Assessment Experts (EAE).
In a public notice, the authority stated that it made the drastic move after an internal audit revealed glaring anomalies.
Through an internal audit, the agency established that most of the registered experts were no longer in active practice, yet they were still in NEMA’s register.
“The Authority for a period starting on 2004 has continuously registered EAEs whose main mandate is to undertake Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA)
“Over 12,000 experts have been registered over that time but an audit has revealed less than half of that number is in active practice,” NEMA announced in a statement.
Following the revelation, the authority announced that subsequent registration was suspended.
“We will be conducting a further audit that will streamline the NEMA register.”
“During the second audit, new registrations will be suspended from January 1 to January 31, 2023,” the authority informed the public.
Over the period under suspension, the active Environmental Impact Assessment Experts (EIAE) will be allowed to renew their licenses.
“During this suspension period, issuance of the annual practicing license for registered experts will continue,” the authority clarified.
EAE is granted to local and foreign individuals and firms of experts wishing to undertake environmental impact assessment activities in Kenya.
NEMA awards expert certificates in three categories; Associate Experts, Lead Experts, and Firm of Experts.