The development and practice of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in Kenya

This paper provides an analytical description of the emerging Kenyan Strategic Environmental assessment (SEA) system as an example from Sub-Sahara Africa, focusing on its form, purposes and implementation. Three features are of particular interest: first, the extent to which the Kenyan SEA operates within a formally recognized regulatory framework of protected rights; second, the policies and institutions which act as agencies of the SEA system; and third, the procedural and substantive requirements of the Kenyan SEA process. It is concluded that the current political and decision-making context, following the new constitution, has created a well-protected and enforceable regulatory system for SEA. However, the successful development of SEA in Kenya will likely depend on 1) internalization and subsequent innovative application of the existing framework; 2) the effective integration of SEA at both the national and regional levels; 3) the level of commitment SEA will get from the emerging political and decision-making cultures; and 4) continuous use of empirical and evaluatory feedback to evolve the system.