Parliamentary Committee Reviews Key Environmental Bills to Strengthen Meteorology and Professional Standards
They noted that some communities in Kenya possess valuable ancestral weather prediction techniques, including interpreting bird movements or animal entrails.
Environment Committee reviews key 2023 and 2024 Bills to strengthen meteorology services and environmental professional standards. Photo/Parliament of Kenya.
By Robert Assad
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Mining, chaired by Hon. Vincent Musyoka, has reviewed two critical pieces of legislation: the Meteorology Bill, 2023 (Senate Bill No. 45 of 2023) and the Environmental Professionals Institute of Kenya Bill, 2024 (National Assembly Bill No. 45 of 2023).
During the session, committee members expressed support for the advancement of both bills, but recommended specific amendments aimed at enhancing their relevance and effectiveness.
One key proposal came from Vice Chairperson Hon. Charles Kamuren (Baringo South) and Hon. Joseph Emathe (Turkana Central), who advocated for the incorporation of Traditional Indigenous Knowledge (TIN) into the Meteorology Bill.
They noted that some communities in Kenya possess valuable ancestral weather prediction techniques, including interpreting bird movements or animal entrails.
“The issue of indigenous knowledge is important here; we can’t rule it out. Traditional weather forecasting methods have, in many instances, proven accurate. There is a need to incorporate such knowledge in the Meteorology Bill,” stated Hon. Kamuren.
Additionally, members emphasized that the proposed Kenya Meteorological Service Authority must align with international obligations, especially concerning aeronautical meteorological services under the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and Kenya’s Civil Aviation Act.
Regarding the Environmental Professionals Institute of Kenya Bill, the committee affirmed that its provisions do not conflict with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA), especially regarding the functions of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).
However, the committee recommended clearer categorization of environmental professionals and consultants within the Bill. Hon. Musyoka stressed the importance of defining membership tiers to prevent overlap and ensure proper regulation of practitioners in the environmental sector.
“These legislative efforts are vital in professionalizing environmental practice and integrating local knowledge systems with scientific methods,” Hon. Musyoka noted.
The two Bills are expected to undergo further refinement before being tabled for second reading in Parliament.
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