The National Environment Management Authority(NEMA) is an authority in established under Kenya laws in Kenya whose object and purpose is to exercise general supervision and co-ordination over all matters relating to the environment and to be the principal instrument of Government in the implementation of all policies relating to the environment.
The functions NEMA under Kenya laws are to —
(a) co-ordinate the various environmental management activities being undertaken by the lead agencies and promote the integration of environmental considerations into development policies, plans, programmes and projects with a view to ensuring the proper management and rational utilization of environmental resources on a sustainable yield basis for the improvement of the quality of human life in Kenya;
(b) take stock of the natural resources in Kenya and their utilisation and conservation;
(c) establish and review in consultation with the relevant lead agencies, land use guidelines;
(d) examine land use patterns to determine their impact on the quality and quantity of natural resources;
(e) carry out surveys which will assist in the proper management and conservation of the environment;
(f) advise the Government on legislative and other measures for the management of the environment or the implementation of relevant international conventions, treaties and agreements in the field of environment, as the case may be;
(g) advise the Government on regional and international environmental conventions, treaties and agreements to which Kenya should be a party and follow up the implementation of such agreements where Kenya is a party;
(h) undertake and co-ordinate research, investigation and surveys in the field of environment and collect, collate and disseminate information about the findings of such research, investigation or survey;
(i) mobilise and monitor the use of financial and human resources for environmental management;
(j) identify projects and programmes or types of projects and programmes, plans and policies for which environmental audit or environmental monitoring must be conducted;
(k) initiate and evolve procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may cause environmental degradation and evolve remedial measures where accidents occur; 1999 Environmental Management and Co-ordination No. 8
(l) monitor and assess activities, including activities being carried out by relevant lead agencies, in order to ensure that the environment is not degraded by such activities, environment is not degraded by such activities, environmental management objectives are adhered to and adequate early warning on impending environmental emergencies is given;
(m) undertake, in co-operation with relevant lead agencies, programmes intended to enhance environmental education and public awareness about the need for sound environmental management as well as for enlisting public support and encouraging the effort made by other entities in that regard;
(n) publish and disseminate manuals, codes or guidelines relating to environmental management and prevention or abatement of environmental degradation;
(o) render advice and technical support, where possible, to entities engaged in natural resources management and environmental protection so as to enable them to carry out their responsibilities satisfactorily;
(p) prepare and issue an annual report on the state of the environment in Kenya and in this regard may direct any lead agency to prepare and submit to it a report on the state of the sector of the environment under the administration of that lead agency;
(q) perform such other functions as the Government may assign to the Authority or as are incidental or conducive to the exercise by the Authority of any or all of the functions
provided under the Environmental Management and coordination Act.