The Minister for Environment and Mineral resources Hon. John Michuki is leading a high level Kenya delegation to the second consultative Group of Ministers or High level Representatives on International Environmental Governance in Rome from 26th to 29th October 2009.
And just like was the case during the first consultative meeting held in Belgrade Serbia from 27th to 28th June 2009 the Honorable Minister is co-chairing the meetings together with Honorable Stefania Prestigiacomo, the Minister for Environment, Land and Sea of the Republic of Italy.
The mandate of this UNEP meeting is to present a set of options for reforming International Environmental Governance. The options will be presented to the Governing council /Global Ministerial forum at its eleventh special session scheduled for February 2010 in Bali Indonesia. Upon approval by the GC/GMEF, the Option will be presented to the United Nation General Assembly for approval to enable subsequent implementation with a view of providing inputs to the United Nation General Assembly.
More than 45 countries are participating in this important meeting including African countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, Algeria, Mauritius, Djibouti and Egypt among others.
By taking up position of co-chair of International Environmental Governance Consultative Group, Hon Michuki has strategically anchored the influence and leadership that Kenya can provide on environmental management and conservation.
The Kenya Atlas of our changing environment which is a publication on how our environment has deteriorated during the past 40years, clearly demonstrates that we must know the state of our environment to devise appropriate actions for effective management and conservation. Kenya stands to benefit immensely from this initiative through intensified interest in addressing environmental challenges including conservation of the Mau Forest Complex as well as rehabilitation and restoration of degraded river-basins like Nairobi River and Lake Turkana River Basins
While paying a courtesy call on his counterpart Honorable Stefania Prestigiacomo at the Ministry of Environment headquarters the two ministers agreed that the consultative meeting should come up with a conclusive report on the future international Environmental governance to be represented to the next Governing Council /Ministerial Global forum Bali Indonesia next February.
The minister acknowledged the continued Italian support to Kenya on matters of provision of clean water, slum upgrading and environmental management.
The Italian Government in response agreed to give assistance to Kenya Government in the commissioning of the Dandora Community Park , rehabilitation of the Dandora dump site, and solid waste management of Nairobi City and other major large towns. In this regard the Italian Government will train 50 youths from each identified Municipality on short course on specialized solid waste collection.
The Italian Government will also provide expertise on the recycling of solid waste into renewable energy as well as sustenance of the rehabilitated and restored Nairobi river.
The minister is accompanied to the meeting by Amb. Macharia Kamau Kenya’s the Permanent Representative to United Nations Office Nairobi (UNON), Dr. Alice Kaundia, the Environment Secretary and Amb. Ann Belinda Nyikuli Kenya’s Ambassador to Rome Italy, and Jacinta Ngwiri, the Agriculture Attaché Kenya Embassy Rome.