Policy Framework for Conservation and Management of Riparian Lands in Kenya

Abstract

Riparian lands are important components of functioning, healthy aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Healthy riparian lands are critically important landscape components, providing environmental, economic, cultural and recreational benefits. However, the extent and health of riparian lands has declined in most areas in Kenya. This is partly because riparian lands are inadequately defined with many of the definitions based on the objectives and the field of interest. In addition, the environmental legislation framework in Kenya is marked by a series of environmental legislations which are scattered across different laws or Acts of Parliament. This has led to uncoordinated implementation of sectoral and management plans for sustainable management of riparian lands. This paper looks at the current state of riparian lands against the needs of relevant sectors and proposes recommendations for improving riparian land conservation and management in Kenya. A review of the existing legal, regulatory and policy frameworks indicated a number of gaps and opportunities from the conservation of riparian lands in Kenya. Most of the legislations and regulations are scattered in a range of resource and sectoral specific Acts, regulatory and policy documents. With regard to institutional settings, there is a lack of coordination, lack of or poor enforcement, lack of manpower, and in many cases lack of a clear management plan for the riparian areas. There is also political influence and overlapping mandates between or amongst institutions. This confusion between the existing Acts, regulations and policies hamper implementation and result in a lack of practical guidelines for enforcement officers on the ground. Therefore, there is need for the various sectors and institutions involved in management of riparian lands to derive a working definition of riparian lands and their extent to guide the operation of these sectors/institutions in conservation and management of riparian lands.