How Well Do Environmental Regulations Work in Kenya? : A Case Study of the Thika Highway Improvement Project
University of Nairobi
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Abstract: Proper management of the environment,both in the short- and long-term,is a key part of sustainable urban development. Yet often little attention is paid to how environmental regulations work in practice and what can be done to strengthen them especially in lower-income countries. In such countries environmental regulation is often seen as secondary to other concerns such as economic growth. Yet poor environmental regulation can lead to serious costs in terms of growth,human health and erosion of the natural resource base. This issue is of particular concern in Africa,which is rapidly urbanizing and building infrastructure in an attempt to accommodate rapid urban growth. Based on interviews with local environmental experts and a review of regulations,this study looks at the Kenyan case of environmental regulation and examines how it works (or not) in a major transportation infrastructure project: the NairobiThika Highway Improvement Project (NTHIP).