Resource information
The environmental sector in Kenya is one of great importance. However, attention in its protection and conservation from a legal point of view came to prominence a decade ago with the enactment of the Environmental and Management Coordination Act of 1999 and the subsequent formation of the National Environmental Management Authority under section 7 of the act.
Prior to the enactment of the EMCA, there was no framework environmental legislation and no central agency to enforce all these laws. Kenya's environmental law was contained in about 77 sectoral statutes that were in line with natural resource sectors. This sectoral approach had entrusted enforcement responsibility in various government departments which created jurisdictional overlaps and conflicts. This created a lot of confusion and it was realized that there was need to have a focal point within the government to coordinate policies and activities and to advise the government on environmental management issues.