Language: EnglishOriginal: English

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FUND

PROJECT: LAST MILE CONNECTIVITY PROJECTCOUNTRY: KENYA ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK SUMMARY SEPTEMBER 2014

Appraisal Team

Team Leader S. ASFAW Principal Power Engineer ONEC.2/EARC 8269

Team Members

N. KULEMEKA Chief Socio-Economist ONEC.3/SARC 8452C. AHOSSI Chief Regional

Procurement CoordinatorORPF.1/EARC 8249

A.M.MOUSSA Financial Analyst ONEC.2 2867

E. NDINYA Senior Environmental Specialist

ONEC3/SARC 8417

D. MUTUKU Principal Financial Management Officer

ORPF.2/EARC 8252

S. ONEN Principal Legal Counsel GECL1/EARC 8239E. CAROLINE Senior Investment Officer ONEC2/EARC 8233

P. OWUORI Senior National Procurement Officer

ORPF.1/EARC 8240

Sector Manager E. NEGASH ONEC.2 3931Sector Director A. RUGAMBA ONEC 2015Regional Director G. NEGATU EARC 8232

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ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (ESMF)

SUMMARY

Project Name : Last Mile Connectivity Project Country : KENYAProject Number : P-KE- FA0-010

1. Introduction

The Government of Kenya has pledged to stimulate economic growth and accelerate job creation to improve the economic wellbeing of Kenyans. Among the many interventions to achieve this is expansion of the power distribution system to be within reach and thus enable more Kenyans connect to the grid at affordable cost and hence initiate economic activities at the micro-economic level. The current trend of network expansion driven by customer demand is approaching saturation. In the foreseeable future there is a likelihood of the annual connectivity stagnating at the 300,000-400,000 customers per year level.

Although the level of connection of public facilities is high at 72%, the level of connectivity of the rural population is low at about 26%. It is estimated that in the rural areas the current average connection rate of households within reach of an existing transformer is about 40%. That is, a huge proportion of 60% of households within reach of existing transformers are yet to be connected. This low level of connection of domestic households in the rural areas is largely due to the inability of the rural population to pay the connection charge and explains the low connectivity of the rural population. Assuming a national population figure of 40 million, a rural to urban population ratio of 80:20 and an average household size of 4.8 it implies that about 5 million rural households are not electrified.

This challenge will be a major hindrance to achievement of the Government target of connecting every household by the year 2020. Achievement of this target means connecting the remaining 5 million households in the rural areas in seven (7) years, which translates to a connection rate of about 700,000 rural households in the rural areas every year. This is a huge number of households to be connected in one year considering that the current national connection rate is about 300,000 customers every year. This therefore calls for a new strategy of connecting households in the country.

To reduce the cost burden of increased connectivity on KPLC, as well as reduce the amount paid by the customer to connect to the grid, the strategy proposed is to extend the distribution network to as near the customer as possible using external or government funding. This can initially be achieved by extending the low voltage network on existing and other upcoming distribution transformers to reach households lying within transformer protection distance (maximization). This model would involve building low voltage lines both single phase and three phase (to a small extent) along rural access roads.

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Data collected from KPLC regions indicates that the company has potential to connect approximately 472,002 households that are within 600 meters of the transformers through individual service lines. The 472,002 households correspond to approximately 1.2 million customers. Of these households, some will be within developed areas, majority of who will be reached by a service cable drop or a pole or two, whereas in the expansive zones in the peri-urban and rural areas, construction of a 600m low voltage line for a single customer will not be an exception.

The Last Mile Connectivity Program (LCMP) shall cover selected sites in the 47 Counties in the country. The Environmental Assessment instrument applicable to a program of this scale and whose specific sites are unknown at this stage is the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). Since the project involves distribution lines, cable extensions to households in peri-urban areas and rural electrification, it is classified as Category 2 according to the Bank’s Environmental and Social Assessment Procedures. This ESMF Summary has been prepared from the ESMF developed for the LCMP in accordance with the AfDB Operational Safeguards 1 (OS 1).

2. Description of Project / Program Operation

The Last Mile Connectivity Project (LCMP) aims to support the Government’s initiatives of ensuring increased electricity access to Kenyans, particularly among the low income groups. The existing distribution transformers shall be exploited to the maximum through extension of the low voltage network to reach households located in the vicinity of these transformers.

KPLC has a total of about 35,000 distribution transformers spread across the country. The transformers were installed for various reasons, i.e., for new customers, reinforcement of existing transformers due to load growth, reinforcement to reduce length of the low voltage lines hence improve transformer protected distances, etc. As such majority of the transformers will be having varied lengths of the low voltage network emanating from them, some of which will be passing in close proximity to ready and potential customers.

The proposed Project includes the following components: (i) construction of the distribution system, which entails 11,723 meters of low voltage distribution lines; (ii) installation of equipment for the connection of 250,809 households and 27,868 commercial customers; (iii) project supervision and management and (iv) Capacity building in targeted areas of expertise. The project is proposed to be divided into four LOTs or Contracts.

Through the ESMF sub-projects in each LOT will be screened for potential adverse environmental and social impacts. Based on the screening results, each subproject will include local costs of implementing and monitoring the mitigation measures. This will be done through involvement of National Environment Management Authority and KPLC Environment Unit in coordination with the Project Implementation Team (PIT). This will be complimented by the availability of County Environmental Officers who are the environmental custodians.

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3. Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework

The Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA), 1999 provides for the establishment of a legal and institutional framework for the management of the environment and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto. Just as in the new constitution, Part II of EMCA confers to every person the right to a clean and healthy environment and to its judicial enforcement. The new Constitution and EMCA therefore obligates the project’s Executing Agency and Contractor to work in a clean environment and not to contravene the right of any person within its zone of influence, to this entitlement. EMCA has provided for the development of several subsidiary legislations and guidelines which govern environmental management and are relevant to the project implementation. These include;

The Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003 Legal Notice No. 101;

The Environmental Management and Coordination (Waste Management) Regulations, 2006 Legal Notice No. 121;

The Environmental Management and Coordination (Water Quality) Regulations, 2006 Legal Notice No. 120;

The Environmental Management and Coordination (Noise and Excessive Vibration Pollution) (Control) Regulations, 2009 Legal Notice No. 61;

The Environmental Management and Coordination (Conservation of Biological Diversity and Resources, Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing) Regulations, 2006 Legal Notice No. 160;

The Environmental Management and Coordination (Fossil Fuel Emission Control) Regulations, 2006 Legal Notice No. 131;

The Environmental Management and Coordination (Controlled Substances) Regulations, 2007 Legal Notice No. 73.

Kenya’s key environmental assessment and monitoring agencies include the following; The National Environment Council: The Council is responsible for policy formulation

and directions for the purposes of developing the EMCA. The Council also sets national goals and, objectives, and determines policies, and priorities for the protection of the environment.

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA): NEMA is responsible for general supervision and, co-ordination of all matters relating to the environment and is the principal instrument of government in the implementation of all policies relating to the environment. The authority is also responsible for monitoring compliance with all the NEMA regulations.

The Standards and Enforcement Review Committee (SERC): NEMA through EMCA has established standards for the various environmental parameters that require management and these include the water quality standards, noise and vibration control standards, and the waste management standards, amongst other. SERC, through the Compliance and Enforcement Department of NEMA monitors the compliance level of the project to ensure environmental control standards are implemented. The committee also follows on complaints reported by the public.

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The Provincial and District/ County Environment Committees: These committees contribute to decentralization of activities undertaken by NEMA and thus enable local communities to have access to environmental management information. The committees also conduct quick site visits and review environment related reports of the projects and on occasions could attend site meetings.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007, is an Act of Parliament to provide for the safety, health and welfare of all workers and all persons lawfully present at workplaces, to provide for the establishment of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health and for connected purposes. The Act applies to all workplaces and workers associated with it; whether temporary or permanent. The main aim of the Act is to safeguard the safety, health and welfare of workers and non-workers. It is thus recommended that all Sections of the Act related to this project, such as provision of protective clothing, clean water, and insurance cover are observed so as to protect all from work related injuries or other health hazards.

There are sectoral legislation and regulations relating to various environmental aspects and that are relevant to the project that were reviewed, including international treaties and agreements that Kenya has ratified and these have been included in the ESMF Report.

According to the AfDB Integrated Safeguards System, the activities in the Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP) are expected to trigger OS 1 (Environmental Assessment) and OS5 (Labor Conditions, Health and Safety). However, should the future phases of the LMCP trigger other OSs, such as OS 3 (Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), the safeguards instruments prepared for any subprojects will address the requirements of any applicable policies.

Table 1: Operational Safeguards Triggered by the LCMPOperational Safeguards Triggered YES NOOS1 -Environmental Assessment xOS2 Involuntary Resettlement: Land Acquisition, Population Displacement and Compensation

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OS3 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services xOS 4: Pollution Prevention and Control, Greenhouse Gases, Hazardous Materials

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OS 5 Labor Conditions, Health and Safety x

4. Environmental and Social Baseline Information at the national and regional level

The proposed project will be rolled out in the entire country within the 47 counties hence the baseline information presented in the ESMF is for the entire country.

Kenya is located in the eastern part of the African continent approximately between latitudes 4o

21’ N and 4o 28’ S and between longitudes 34o and 42o E. Kenya is bordered by Uganda to the

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west, Ethiopia and South Sudan to the north, Tanzania to the south and Somalia and the Indian Ocean to the east. Kenya covers an area of approx. 587,000 km2, of which 11,000 km2 consists of water bodies (97.8% land and 2.2% water surface). Only 20% of the land area can be classified as medium to high potential agricultural land and the rest of the land is mainly arid or semi-arid. Forests, woodlands and national reserves and game parks account for ten percent (10%) of the land area, i.e. 58,264 sq. km.

Kenya’s landscape is grouped into geographical zones including; the Savannah Lands covering most of the arid and semi- arid areas, the Coastal Margin, the Rift Valley, the Highlands and the Lake Victoria Basin. The proposed LCMP will cover all these geographical zones.

Kenya lies along the equator in East Africa. Most of the country consists of high plateau areas and mountain ranges that rise up to 3,000 m and more. The plateau area is dissected by the Eastern Rift Valley, which is 40-50 km wide and up to 1,000 m lower than the flanking plateau.

The narrow coastal strip along the Indian Ocean is backed by a zone of thornbush-land. Some areas in central Kenya, at the flanks of the Rift Valley, and in western Kenya, close to Lake Victoria, are very densely populated.

The land stretches from the sea level (Indian Ocean) in the east through a diversity of landforms. From the coast, the altitude changes gradually through the coastal belt and plains (below 152metres above sea level), the dry intermediate low belt to what is known as the Kenya Highlands (over 900 metres above sea level). The country is split by the Great Rift Valley into the Western part, which slopes into Lake Victoria from the Mau ranges and Mount Elgon (4,300m) and the Eastern part dominated by Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare Ranges which rise to 5,200m and 4,000m respectively.

Kenya enjoys a tropical climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country. The average annual temperature for the coastal town of Mombasa (altitude 17 metres) is 30.30 Celsius maximum and 22.40 Celsius minimum, the capital city, Nairobi (altitude 1,661 metres) 25.20 Celsius maximum and 13.60 Celsius minimum, Eldoret (altitude 3,085) 23.60 Celsius maximum and 9.50 Celsius minimum, Lodwar (altitude) 506 metres) and the drier north plain lands 34.80 Celsius maximum and 23.70 Celsius minimum.

The long rains occur from April to June and short rains from October to December. The rainfall is sometimes heavy and when it does come it often falls in the afternoons and evenings. The hottest period is from February to March and coldest in July to August.

Kenya’s population increases by an estimated one million a year. The government revised population based on the 2009 census is 39.8 million, an increase of over 35 percent in the past decade. The population report shows the distribution of the population across the country, with Rift Valley Province being the most populous with 10.1 million people. Nairobi, the capital, has 3.1 million people, according to the report released by the Ministry of Planning and National Development. Demographic trends show that more people are moving to urban areas and the Bank estimates that half of Kenya’s population will live in cities by 2050. Better macro-

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economic conditions in the past decade helped improve the welfare of Kenyans, but the poor remain vulnerability to drought and other crises induced by climate change. Rural and urban poverty remain a challenge.

5. Procedures to assess potential environmental and social impacts and Developing ESMPs

The Environmental and Social Screening Process outlined in the ESMF complements Kenya’s EIA procedures for meeting the environmental and social management requirements. The Environmental and Social Screening Process also meets the requirements of the donors i.e. AfDB. It provides a mechanism for ensuring that potential adverse environmental and social impacts of future projects by KPLC are identified, assessed and mitigated and monitored as appropriate, through an environmental and social screening process. This will be undertaken by qualified consultants supported by KPLC staff at the national and regional levels. Most of the sub-projects are likely to fall into Category 2 or 3. The screening process is as follows;

Step 1: Screening of Project Activities and Sites: KPLC PIT with the help of regional staff will carry out the initial screening in the field, by completing the Environmental and Social Screening Form. The screening form, when correctly completed, will facilitate the identification of potential environmental and social impacts, potential water and soil pollution, soil erosion, the need for safe disposal of creosote treated poles, PCB, need for way-leave acquisition.

Step 2: Assigning the Appropriate Environmental Categories: The environmental and social screening form, when completed, will provide information on the assignment of the appropriate environmental category to a particular project. The KPLC PIT will be responsible for assigning the appropriate environmental category to the proposed KPLC Project in accordance with the requirements of OS 1 Environmental and Social Assessment and EMCA 1999.

Step 3: Carrying out Environmental and Social Impact Assessment: KPLC Environment Unit staff will determine whether (a) the application of simple mitigation measures outlined in the Environmental and Social Checklist will suffice (category 2); (b) no additional environmental Assessment will be required (category 3); or (c) a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will need to be carried out, using the national EIA guidelines (category 1). In situations where the screening process identifies the need for land acquisition, impacts on assets, causes a loss of livelihood, and/or restricts access to natural resources, a Compensation Plan shall be prepared.

Step 4: Review and Approval of the Screening Activities: The results and recommendations presented in the environmental and social screening forms and the proposed mitigation measures presented in the environmental and social checklists will be reviewed by KPLC Environmental Unit and Validated by NEMA at the County level. Where an EIA has been carried out, NEMA will review the reports to ensure that all environmental and social impacts have been identified and that effective mitigation measures have been proposed.

Step 5: Public Consultation: This will involve notification (to publicize the matter to be consulted on), consultation (a two-way flow of information and opinion exchange) as well as

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participation involving interest groups. Through public participation, environmental conservation will be enhanced.

Step 6: Environmental Monitoring and Indicators: This describes the processes and activities that need to take place to characterize and monitor the quality of the environment in the project sites. The environmental indicators that need to be monitored include; air quality, water quality, flora and fauna, human health, social and economic conditions.

6. Project Benefits and Measures to develop appropriate ESMPs for sub-projects

Project Benefits

Majority of the rural households use kerosene as their main energy source for lighting. Typically, the fuel-base lighting is expensive, dangerous, and unhealthy, further, such fuels are often inadequate especially for students who need to do assignments after daylight hours. Fuel based lighting has more probability of causing fire, than all other forms of lighting. Light from kerosene lamp is poor and inefficient. Poor lighting affects literacy and generally education.

Electricity supply for households is expected to mainly be used for lighting, ironing, powering electrical equipment such as radios, TVs and refrigerators. Heating energy for cooking and boiling water is mainly from firewood and charcoal, very few people use gas for cooking.

The sleeping time for these families will on average be 10.00pm and for families with school going children the reading times will extend for about 4hours both in the morning and in the evening. The family members will enjoy time together watching TV for entertainment and information purposes, thus the members will be better informed and more socially empowered.

According to a study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, at the University of California, comparing electricity and kerosene for lighting, one (1) lantern produces total light output of 8 to 82 lumens (the unit measurement of visible light emitted by a source). In comparison, a 60-watt incandescent lamp with an efficacy of 12 lumens/watt would produce 720 lumens of light.

Other benefits expected from electrification include; Income benefits because of access to electricity and therefore access to new opportunities

of work, especially in non-farm activities and improved social economic status of the rural communities.

Education benefits from higher educational attainment by the children of electrified households (resulting from extended reading times and exposure), which results in higher future earnings.

Time saved from household chores (additional leisure time), valued at the opportunity cost of labor, that is, the average wage.

Productivity of home business increases family income and consequently social welfare. Increased agricultural productivity calculated as incremental revenue.

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Improved health comes from the value of reduced mortality as a result of improved indoor air quality from reduced reliance on kerosene lamps.

Reduced fertility coming from knowledge from channels accessed using electricity, valued at the cost of achieving fertility reduction through reproductive health programs.

Public goods benefits, such as increased security from use of security lights etc.

Measures to develop appropriate ESMPs:

The purpose of the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) is to provide guidance during the implementation of the Proposed KPLC Projects regarding the institutional responsibilities and cost estimates for effective environmental and social management. Towards this end, each sub-project shall prepare an ESMP. The ESMP will:

Ensure that proper appraisals on the effects of projects takes place and that proper measures are put in place to mitigate the effects;

Set out the basis for compliance and enforcement of terms and conditions for approval; Design compliance strategies; and Monitor compliance and managing of the environment.

Detailed guidelines for Environmental Management by the Contractors to use during project implementation have been prepared and included as Annex 3 of the ESMF. The ESMP guidelines have also been established in the ESMF Annex 6 and 7.

Public consultations are critical in preparing an effective proposal for the construction and rehabilitation of the project activities. The first step is to hold public consultations with the local communities and all other interested and affected parties, during the screening process and in the course of preparing the ESMP. These consultations should identify key issues and determine how the concerns of all parties will be addressed in response to the terms of reference for the Lot specific ESMP which might be carried out for construction and rehabilitation proposals.

The ESMPs shall provide the following information; (i) describe the potential adverse environmental and social impacts of future projects; (ii) outline proposed mitigation measures to be adopted and indicate parties responsible for implementing mitigation measures; (iii) identify parties that will carry out the monitoring of the implementation of the mitigation measures; (iv) outline the time horizons for the various activities; and (v) detail the associated costs and sources of funds. The ESMP will be included in the Project Implementation Manual and the cost estimates for implementing the ESMP will be included in project cost tables.

7. Mitigation / Enhancement Measures and Complimentary Initiatives

Mitigation and Enhancement Measures:

A summary of typical environmental and social impacts and the corresponding typical mitigation measures for the types of activities likely to be undertaken by KPLC are provided in the ESMF. Some of the negative impacts and proposed mitigation measures are summarised below:

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Electric shocks and electrocution of people: An expanded program of rural electrification has come with the risks of accidents and electrocutions especially when homes get connected and also during project implementation.

Mitigation against Electrocutions: Workers shall be provided with personal protective equipment (PPEs) and will be trained to deal with live wires to avoid accidents. Communities involved in vandalism shall also be warned against tampering with installations that have been energized. At household level, the project shall reduce the risk of such occurrences through an awareness and sensitization campaign. Through the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Department, KPLC will ensure that communities who get connected to electricity are adequately inducted on the safe use and dangers of electricity.

Occupation safety and health hazards: During construction many people will be engaged in working. Such people are exposed to occupational risks like falling from heights, and accidents.

Mitigation for Occupational Health and Safety Hazards: The contractor must observe all the safety precautions to ensure workers work safely. To this end the Contractors will be required to strictly comply with OSHA Act, 2007 and the OSHA Regulations. The Contractors shall prepare a Health and Safety Plan (HSMP) as part of the ESMP. The HSMP shall include; (i) Safety awareness creation to the workers; (ii) Use of personal protective equipment like gloves, helmet, climbing shoes, harnesses etc. (iii) Staff Training and regular equipment service and testing; (iv) Procedures to verify that only trained & certified workers install, maintain or repair electrical equipment; (v)Use of signs, barriers and education/ public outreach to prevent public contact with potentially dangerous equipment; (vi) Community policing to be encouraged to reduce vandalism of transformers and distribution cables; (vii) Maintain a fully stocked and accessible first aid kit.

Public health risk: At project implementation many new workers will be involved and new sexual interactions between people are likely to take place. These interactions are likely to pose risks to the social fabric of the society. Such risks include public health related issues such as (HIV/AIDS, communicable and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention Campaigns: HIV/AIDS mainstreaming activities including awareness, prevention, counselling and treatment are undertaken by KPLC at both corporate level and project level. At corporate level, the Company Medi-Care Department with a Medical Officer who, working with the Occupational Safety and Health Officer (OSHO), offer such services to staff. At project level, the onus of providing awareness and sensitization programs is with Contractor who with the input of the OSHO shall include modules on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, Alcohol and drug abuse within the daily ‘Tool-box’ talks.

Impact on Natural Vegetation: The project will involve short service lines within the 600m radius mainly along the road reserve. No tall growing trees will be allowed below the lines or along the way leave trace. Grass and short vegetation will be cleared to pave way for erection of poles.

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Mitigation of Impacts on Natural Vegetation: (i) KPLC will plant trees as a way of compensation for the cleared ones; (ii) the Contactors shall be instructed to clear limited areas only where the pole will be erected; (iii) Select alternative alignments to avoid sensitive natural features.

Construction material sourcing-wooden poles: Majority of these service lines are constructed using wooden poles. This would impact on the environment as approximately 300,000 poles will be needed for this phase of project implementation according to the preliminary estimates.

Mitigation for wooden poles: (i) KPLC shall re-establish its tree nursery; (ii) Plant more trees to compensate for the poles used; (iii) Supply seedlings to farmers to increase forest cover; (iv) Consider use of concrete poles in future phases of the project.

Waste Generation: Little if any solid waste will be generated which includes conductor and tree cuttings and occasionally transformer oils.

Waste Management: (i) All left over conductor cuttings to be disposed appropriately or be returned to the store for proper disposal; (ii) Proper budgeting of materials to reduce wastage; (iii) Practice 3 Rs of waste management: reduce, reuse, recycle of materials; (iv) Properly Manage storage, transfer, and disposal of transformer oils according to industry standards.

Complimentary Initiatives:

The project design will abide by the Bank’s gender and social inclusion strategies for enhancing social benefits and implementing complementary activities, which include, among others:

(i) Tree Planting Program:

KPLC has been undertaking tree planting initiatives to increase forest cover and carbon dioxide sinks since 2009. Tree planting under this initiative has been done in 14 Forest Blocks belonging to Kenya Forest Service. KPLC previously had a tree nursery in Eldoret and would provide free seedlings to farmers but faced some challenges on land issues related to the tree nursery. However, new land for re-establishment of the nursery has been secured and KPLC plans to establish the program. The proposed project will allocate some funds to re-establish the nursery and make available tree seedlings to farmers in selected degraded areas as part of the conservation efforts by KPLC. To compensate for the number of wooden poles to be used on the project, KPLC will identify jointly with KFS, Forest Blocks that will be included in the company’s re-afforestation efforts in 2015 and 2016.

(ii) Inclusion of the Disadvantaged Groups (Low Income, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities)

The Bank’s overarching goal is that of poverty alleviation and inclusive growth. To ensure equity in the project and that benefits and economic empowerment of the poor segments of

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society are realized and enhanced, KPLC has various programs which will enable those willing to get connections but have difficulties in meeting the initial connection fee. The project shall include in its design a program of increasing access by assisting such potential customers by maintaining a KShs. 35,000 connection fee payable in 5 years. This intervention shall draw lessons from Stima Loan and the Revolving Fund scheme supported by AFD. KPLC is upscaling its campaign on the importance of using energy saving bulbs and will consider providing the low income households customers under this program with energy saving bulbs which serve various objectives including reduced energy consumption and lower electricity bills.

Other means of spreading project benefits will be to entice the Construction Contractor (EPC) to implement, to the extent feasible and within the rules and procedures of both the GoK and AfDB, procurement of goods, works and services from firms owned by women, youth and people with disabilities as stipulated in the Procurement Act of 2013.

(iii) Kenya Power Gender Mainstreaming

As part of the Bank’s Ten Year Strategy Gender Mainstreaming is an important pillar requiring attention at project design, implementation and operational levels. KPLC through the office of the Gender Coordination Committee undertakes gender mainstreaming in the company. Following the Gender Assessment on Opportunities and Challenges in gender mainstreaming (2013), KPLC has embarked on a capacity building program of bringing awareness to KPLC in its internal and external gender mainstreaming efforts.

In this regard, the project design has included Gender Mainstreaming Workshops for KPLC staff in all regions during project implementation. The overall goal for the training would be to equip the staff of Kenya Power with theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and attitudes that would enable them play exemplary roles in providing gender responsive customer service to attract and retain customers in realizing the organization’s mission, vision and core values. Ultimately, Kenya Power shall have internalized in its operations and procedures cross cutting issues of gender, sexual harassment and discrimination.

(iv) Corporate and Social Responsibility

The Mission was informed about the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs which focus on providing additional benefits to communities who are in some ways affected by implementation of the projects they undertake. The areas of focus have included education, health and environment. In the past financial year (2012/13) at least KShs. 42 million have been spent in such programs benefiting a variety of groups and institutions. It is, therefore, expected that these areas will benefit from such CSR programs in the project period.

8. Expected Residual Effects and Environmental Hazard Management

Reduction of Green House Gas Emissions GHGs: The burning of kerosene causes both indoor and local air pollution, with fuel based lighting responsible for the emission of 244 million tons of carbon dioxide into the environment each year from developing countries. Studies have shown

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that a single kerosene lantern burning for an average of four hours a day emits over 100kg of CO2 a year. The combustion of fuel for lighting consequently results in 190 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. The LCMP will therefore reduce the emission of GHGs through increased electrification and reduced use of fossil fuels.

To mitigate any adverse residual effects of the programme, the ESMF has identified Capacity Building as key activity to be undertaken during project implementation. Capacity building shall be undertaken by the SHE Department for the Regional Safety Officers/Engineers to ensure that the ESMF is effectively operationalized. The KPLC PIT and regional staff involved in environmental matters have to be exposed to training in the management of environmental issues. The training program for various role players will include an orientation program on the ESMF to be done by SHE department which will include environmental assessment processes and participatory methodologies. Capacity building will help improve the effectiveness of stakeholders at various levels in the management of environmental and social impacts during planning, implementation and operation of proposed projects.

Capacity building will enhance the ESMF management capacity by allowing real application of the best practices such as the following:

Screening of investments for potential environmental and social impacts, scoping assessments, planning mitigation options, public consultation to assess feasibility and acceptability options; steps 1-7 to implement the environmental and social screening process for projects;

Environment: site selection to minimize environmental impacts and social disruption; restoration of drainage patterns including mitigation matters in contracts; management of impacts during construction; monitoring of effectiveness of measures;

Monitoring and grievance redress: transparency and supervision responsibilities.

As regards the institutional capacity building, the KPLC PIT and regional staff are to be trained in different aspects of the implementation of the ESMF and the proposed Project, including interpretation and implementation of environmental impact management guidelines and the AfDB safeguard policies. Different groups involved in project implementation have different training needs in terms of raised awareness, sensitization to the issues, and detailed technical training. While some would require training on general awareness building and more specific training would be needed for others. The three major areas for anticipated trainings are:

Awareness raising for participants who need to appreciate the significance or relevance of environmental issues;

Sensitization to the issues for participants who need to be familiar enough with the issues that they can make informal and specific requests for technical support;

Detailed technical training for participants who will need to analyze potentially adverse environmental impacts, to prescribe mitigation approaches and measures, and to prepare and supervise the implementation of environmental and social management plans. This training will address such matters as community participation methods; environmental assessment; using the ESMF; and project supervision and monitoring;

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The community members will be trained on better methods of environmental conservation and management.

9. ESMF and ESMP Implementation and Monitoring Program

The ESMF requirements ensure that implementation of the projects integrates environmental and social issues for the sustainability of the project as well as the sub-projects. Among other things the ESMF recommends the following key issues, namely; training, capacity building, screening, reviewing and monitoring mechanisms.

The following are specific institutional responsibility for KPLC PIT on the projects:

Play the role of facilitating the implementation of the ESMF and the sub-projects To produce annual and periodical reports to the Bank indicating the actions that has been

undertaken towards the implementation of projects on the environmental status. Drawing up project objectives for monitoring purposes Develop the key indicators for monitoring purposes with the bank and ensure the

monitoring capabilities. Carrying out Environmental awareness campaigns and collaborate with other

stakeholders where these projects will be implemented.

Implementation of ESMPs developed from the project ESMF shall be the responsibility of the Contractors and a provisional sum shall be included in the Contractor’s Bill of Quantities. The ESMP will outline the institutional arrangements and cost estimates for environmental and social management during the implementation, operation and decommissioning of the KPLC Projects. Monitoring of the implementation of the ESMP will be done by KPLC Environment unit with assistance from regional safety officers/engineers.

Building the capacity of staff from implementing Division/departments/ sections in the regions such as projects, Network Management, Chain Supply Management and Finance will enable the staff to screen, review and monitor environmental issues in the sub-projects to ensure compliance with requirements of the national policies and Acts as well as AfDB safeguard policies. Based on experience from other related assignments the estimated cost for technical assistance for capacity building would be 80,000 USD.

Furthermore, screening and reviewing processes would also involve some cost implications. Every sub-project would be screened and reviewed by the implementing unit while involving Environmental Experts. The estimated costs for such processes would be 60,000 USD.

Monitoring plan: there will be monitoring during the implementation of the sub-projects in order to measure the effectiveness of the mitigation measures. The monitoring and reporting procedures will ensure early detection of conditions that necessitate particular mitigation measures and will furnish information on the progress and results of mitigation. The monitoring

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component will involve some cost implications. Based on previous experience from related projects, the estimated costs for monitoring would be 60,000 USD.

Table 2: Estimated level of costs for ESMF implementation NO ESMF proposed actions) Concerned institutions Level of cost (USD)1 Training and capacity

Building SHE, Procurement, infrastructure and Network Management

80,000

2 Screening and reviewing Project Implementation Team/Unit

60,000

3 Monitoring activities PIT, PIU, NEMA 60,000Total Costs 200,000

10. Public Consultations and Public Disclosure

Starting from January 2014, stakeholder engagement and consultation with regard to LCMP was conducted on a preliminary basis by KPLC field engineers in the forty seven counties during project site identification and mapping as part of a wider assessment where the views and thoughts of the sector players were sought. However, in the preparation of the project, additional consultations were conducted by the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Department during EIA process for ongoing nationwide substation upgrading, new substation construction and construction of new lines and uprating the existing ones where discussion on the Last Mile Connectivity Programme was discussed. The stakeholder consultation was significant to the preparation of the ESMF and formed the basis for the determination of potential project impacts and benefits and viable mitigation measures. Most of the issues and suggestions raised by the public revolve around connectivity. They proposed the use of the Stima Loan model or any other method where they are facilitated to get access to electricity and pay slowly over a period of time. Most the rural folk are relatively poor and are not able to pay upfront for the connection fees.

Consultations with key stakeholders were undertaken in some counties to ensure that the proposed Last Mile Connectivity Distribution Project, takes on board views and concerns across different people and institutions including local and central government entities and key ministries at the County Level. The consultations were done mainly through interviews with key informants. Consultations were limited to stakeholders located in counties where the company was doing EIAs for new substations, Lines and upgrading of existing substation because of the following reason; although the Last Mile Connectivity project is intended to cover the whole country i.e. 47 counties, the sample counties were to present some generic environmental and social issues which cut across because the nature of work is the same hence the sample counties are therefore likely to provide a good representative sample.

During Project implementation, the ESMP documents shall be made available for public review and comments. Documents to which the public has access include Project Briefs, EIA terms of reference, draft and final EIA and RAP reports, and decisions of the appropriate authorities

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regarding project approval. The Director of NEMA in charge of compliance and enforcement and relevant government departments has developed practices and procedures for making these documents available to the public.

Certificates/Letters approving projects will be published on KPLC website and KPLC branch offices in a language which can be understood by the locals where the project will be implemented.

11. Conclusion

This Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) has been prepared to establish the mechanism to determine and assess future potential adverse environmental and social impacts of sub-projects that are to be identified and cleared under Last Mile Connectivity program/Project.

The ESMF is meant to ensure that the implementation of the LMCP, of which the sub-project specific sites are unknown at this stage, will be carried out in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner. The ESMF provides the project implementers with an environmental and social screening process that will enable them to identify, assess and mitigate potential environmental and social impacts of sub-project activities, including the preparation of site-specific Environmental Assessments (EIA) and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) where applicable, in accordance with the EMCA, 1999 as well as AfDB safeguard policies particularly Environmental Assessment (OS1).

The ESMF recognizes existing gaps and weaknesses for implementing ESMF under this project and realizes the importance of strengthening the capacity of key implementing departments and the PIT. This will provide a conducive enabling environment to address environmental and social issues in the company across all counties under this project and the implementation of the ESMF.

The project is environmentally and socially feasible for implementation provided the mitigation and monitoring measures are implemented. The ESMF requires that procedures are followed in relation to environmental and social screening, review and approval prior to implementation of sub- projects to be financed under the LMCP. Furthermore, appropriate roles and responsibilities, for managing and monitoring environmental and social concerns related to sub-projects should also be followed.

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