EIA PROCESS TRACKER

Al Sherman Limited

This project is for the proposed construction of salt harvesting pans in Kilifi County, Magarini Sub-County, Fundi Issa Location, Marereni Sub-Location, Adu Ward at Musumarini area for purposes of producing and manufacturing salt from sea water using solar technology. It is estimated that this project will occupy approximately 753.8 hectares of land and will comprise salt ponds (evaporator ponds, serving ponds and crystallzer ponds), electricity connection from the national grid, saltwater pumps, salt washing area raw (salt washery), site camp with offices and support facilities.

Location

Scoping Phase

Date of approval of the Scoping Report or Comprehensive Summary of the Project Report & TOR:
7 May 2018
Download a copy of the Scoping Report or Comprehensive Summary of the Project Report & TOR:

EIA Study Phase

Date of commencement of the EIA Process:
7 May 2018
Download posters:

Newspaper Notices

Name of newspaper in which the notice was advertised:
Date of newspaper publication of a notice on the proposed project:
Download a copy of the newspaper notice:
Name of newspaper in which the notice was advertised:
Date of newspaper publication of a notice on the proposed project:
Download a copy of the newspaper notice:

Radio Announcements

Name of radio station in which the announcement was advertised:
Date of radio announcement of a notice on the proposed project:
Download a copy of the radio station media order:
Name of radio station in which the announcement was advertised:
Date of radio announcement of a notice on the proposed project:
Download a copy of the radio station media order:

Public Meetings

Date of the public meeting:
29 March 2018
Download minutes of that meeting:
Date of the public meeting:
27 March 2018
Download minutes of that meeting:
Date of the public meeting:
22 March 2018
Download minutes of that meeting:
Date of Submission of EIA Study Report to NEMA:
4 September 2018
Title of EIA study report:
NEMA/EIA/5/2/1496 : Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the Proposed Salt Works in A Section Of Land Parcel L.R.NO. 13536, Marereni, Kilifi County
URL link to the EIA study repor:
Download a copy of the EIA Study Report:
Analysis of the EIA study phase:

Our observation is that there is a lack of full compliance with  Regulation 17 (2) (a) (ii) & (iii) of the Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations 2003.  In particular, evidence of compliance with the following requirements was not provided in the EIA study report: –

  • Publishing a notice on the proposed project for two successive weeks in a newspaper with nationwide circulation, and
  • Making an announcement of the notice in both official and local languages in a radio with nationwide coverage for at least once a week for two consecutive weeks.

Additionally, some of the questionnaires attached to the EIA Study report have either similar information, are not dated, or are not completely filled. This raises critical questions on stakeholder consultation and public participation.

EIA Study Review Phase

Newspaper Notices

Name of newspaper in which the notice was advertised:
Daily Nation
Date of newspaper publication of a notice on the proposed project:
29 October 2019
Download a copy of the newspaper notice:
Name of newspaper in which the notice was advertised:
Daily Nation
Date of newspaper publication of a notice on the proposed project:
22 October 2018
Download a copy of the newspaper notice:
Date of publication of invitation for public comments in the Kenya Gazette:
8 February 2019
Title of the Kenya Gazette notice:
Gazette Notice Vol. CXXI-No. 16, Gazette Notice No. 1178 - Invitation of public comments for the EIA study report for the proposed salt works on plot L.R.NO. 13536, Marereni, Kilifi County
URL link to the Kenya Gazette notice:
Download comments on EIA Study Report:
Download the invitation for the public hearing meeting:
Date on which the public hearing was held:
14 November 2019
Download minutes of the public hearing meeting:
Analysis of the public hearing:

Key environmental, land, social and economic issues were strongly voiced by the community member who drew lessons from their experiences with other existing salt farms which have had negative impacts on their environment and lives.

  • Land Issues: It was clear from the public’s views that the site for the proposed project belonged to community members who were forcefully evicted from their land following the issuance of a lease to Sola Salt Limited for purposes of salt mining many years ago.  Community members further alluded to two previous agreements entered into between the squatters who lived on the land and the project proponents regarding the land issue, which were dishonored.
  • The  legality of the title deed to the land held by the proponent was questioned. The grants review by the National Land Commission (NLC) was produced to further prove the fact that indeed the title to land proposed for the project had been revoked and vested back to the County Government for purposes of settling squatters.
  • Environmental Impacts: Drawing lessons from their previous experiences with existing salt farms, the community members and county leaders were able to articulate the existing negative environmental impacts resulting from salt mining in the area.
  • The following were the main environmental impacts pointed out: Blockage of rivers due to the dykes; Diversion of rivers ;Alteration of the composition of soil making it unsuitable for farming; Clearing and destruction of mangrove; Poor waste disposal leading to death of fish and other biodiversity species; Salinization of freshwater sources and Dust pollution.
  • The community members were not convinced that these impacts would be properly mitigated due to the continued lack of goodwill and trustworthiness by previous project proponent.
  • The community stated that there were already too many salt farms established in the area and adding another one would only exacerbate the cumulative impacts of their operation of the people and the environment. For this reason, they suggested that it would be good to think of an alternative project that was environment friendly instead of a salt farm.
  • Contrary to section 20 of the Climate Change Act 2016, the proponent had not conducted a climate change risk assessment. It was pointed out that the failure to include a climate change risk assessment was flawed and enough reason to warrant the denial of an EIA licence.
  • According to the public’s evaluation of the report and the presentation by the proponent about the project, mitigation measures to reduce the impacts cited were not clear. The proponent seemed to only point out the positive impacts and downplay the long lasting negative consequences of the project.
  • Economic Impacts: The public stated that the salt farms had a negative impact on the livelihood of the community. The salt farm operation particularly had an adverse impact on farming and fishing which were the main and leading sources of employment and livelihood for the members of the community.
  • The fact that most of the freshwater sources in the area had also become too salty due to salinization further placed financial stress on community members who now have to buy water to sustain their needs. 

Your Comments

You may send us comments on the EIA Study Report:

Final Decision

Establishment of a technical advisory committee (YES/NO):
No
NEMA’s decision on the EIA license application (APPROVED/NOT APPROVED):
Approved
Date of Decision:
22 December 2020
Download a copy of the EIA license:
Download the reasons for the decision:

Environmental Audits

Environmental Audit Report title:
Environmental Audit Report date:
Environmental Audit Report description:
Download Environmental Audit Report:
Environmental Audit Analysis:

Additional Information

General Comments

You may send us comments on this EIA tracking process in general:

Sign up to Natural Justice!

Receive our quarterly newsletter or get blog updates. Easily unsubscribe at any time.