By James
Anyanzwa, NAIROBI Kenya
East
African member states are reviewing the Protocol on Environment and Natural
Resources Management to create provisions for combating climate change, e-waste
management and peaceful resolution of disputes related to trans-boundary
resources such as the contentious Migingo Island.
The Kenyan Marine Police Base on Usingo Island overlooking Migingo Island. EA states are reviewing a protocol for solving shared resources disputes.
The EastAfrican has learnt that
the agreement, which is now ready for signing, has clear provisions on
reduction of greenhouse emissions, e-waste management and resolution of
disputes arising from shared natural resources.
The reviewed protocol provides that any dispute
arising from shared resources should be addressed in a peaceful manner by the
respective EAC ministers of Environment.
“This is
the approach that Kenya has been pursuing. In terms of whether issues around
Migingo Island are covered by the protocol. Yes, they are covered because the
treaty recommends peaceful resolution of any dispute and if a dispute were to
escalate, it should be addressed by the ministers responsible in the EAC,”
Kenya’s Principal Secretary in the State Department of EAC Affairs Kevit Desai
told The EastAfrican.
“That will minimise the chances of it
degenerating into conflicts amongst the partner states,” he added.
The Migingo Island territorial conflict between
Kenya and Uganda has remained a threat to peace and security in the region
after both countries claimed sovereignty over the island.
Last year Kenya agreed to share the disputed
island with Uganda and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Uganda
to enable fishermen and other Lake Victoria users to access either side of the
boundary.
The tiny Migingo is located along the
Kenya-Uganda boundary in Lake Victoria and it has been a source of conflict for
the two neighbouring countries since 2004.
EAC member countries view peaceful and
co-ordinated management of shared natural resources as critical to promoting
unity and regional integration that appears to have remained elusive largely
due to persistent trade disputes and lack of commitment by member states in the
implementation of joint regional projects.
“One of the key benefits of regional
integration is the co-ordination in management of the environment and natural
resources in order to ensure sustainability of the achievements that accrue
from other fronts,” said Dr Desai.
The protocol, which was signed by Kenya, Uganda
and Tanzania in April 2006 has remained dormant for more than 14 years after
Tanzania declined to ratify it calling for its review.
Rwanda and Burundi are not bound by the
agreement since they were not yet part of the regional bloc by the time the
agreement was being signed.
Article 114 of the EAC treaty provides for
co-operation in joint management and sustainable ultilisation of natural
resources within the bloc.
Besides EAC’s Protocol on Environment and
Natural Resources, member states are signing a MoU with each other to
co-ordinate management of share natural resources.
Kenya has signed a MoU with Tanzania for the
management of the Mara catchment which is an important source of water for Lake
Victoria, the second largest fresh water lake in the world and the main water
reservoir for River Nile, a lifeline for downstream countries South Sudan,
Sudan and Egypt.
The two partner states have also concluded and
signed the MoU for joint management of Lakes Challa, Jipe and Umba River Basin.
“The Mara River is one such important
trans-boundary natural is of immense value to the people in the basin and
beyond. The upper catchment of the Mara River Basin is an important water tower
that supports economic activity and livelihoods of the citizens of the four
hosting counties of Bomet, Narok, Nakuru and Kericho,” said Dr Desai.
“The
lower part of the basin is the source of water for both the people and the wide
biological diversity that depends on it.”
Kenya and Uganda are also in the process of
signing a MoU for the conservation of Mt Elgon but the process has been slowed
by the Covid-19 containment measures that restricted gatherings and movement.
Globally, 2015 Paris Agreement set a global
goal to reach net zero emissions of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane
and nitrous oxide) in the second half of the century and an increasing number
of governments are translating that into national strategy, setting out visions
of a carbon-free future, according to Climate Home News, a UK-based magazine
focusing on the international politics of climate crisis.
The signatories to the Paris Climate Accord are
expected to review their progress in reducing the greenhouse emissions during a
global climate change conference scheduled for Glasgow (Scotland) in November
2021.
The Kenyan government has developed a national
strategy of achieving 10 per cent forest cover by the year 2022 by planting 1.8
billion quality tree seedlings.
Currently Kenya has an estimated 7.2 per cent
of forest cover.
“Borrowing from the global targets of trying to reduce greenhouse emissions and control climate change, Kenya has various policy documents and one of the key targets is to achieve a 10 per cent forest cover for the entire country,” Dr Desai added. - The EastAfrican
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