Environment PS Opposes Bill to Regulate Environmental Professionals
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By John Kariuki
The National Assembly’s Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Mining, chaired by Hon. Vincent Musyoka, engaged stakeholders in Machakos County on the Environmental Professionals Institute of Kenya Bill No. 36 of 2024, which seeks to establish a professional body for regulating environmental experts.
Prof. Ratemo Michieka, representing the Environmental Institute of Kenya (EIK), urged lawmakers to support the Bill, emphasizing the need for structured regulation of professionals in environmental management, waste management, climate change, and water resource management.
However, Environment PS Eng. Festus Ng’eno opposed the Bill, arguing that environmental professionals are already regulated under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) through the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA). He warned against duplicating existing laws.
Committee Chair Hon. Musyoka proposed further consultations between NEMA and EIK before making a final decision. The Committee also reviewed the Metrology Bill (Senate Bill No. 45 of 2023), with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) seeking the exclusion of meteorological services for air navigation from its provisions.
The Committee will continue collecting stakeholder views before finalizing recommendations on both Bills.
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