United Nations Environment Programme Interventions in Safeguarding Urban Environment in Nairobi City County, Kenya (1992-2022)
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Date
2025-03
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Urban areas have become a global concern as a significant source of environmental issues. As a leading authority in environmental matters, UNEP has stepped in to help states to protect urban environment as a wider strategy of safeguarding planetary health. However, despite Kenya hosting UNEP headquarters in Nairobi City County, the City has continued to witness unprecedented environmental challenges. This raises questions about the effectiveness of UNEP’s interventions at the local level. This study aimed to evaluate effectiveness of UNEP interventions in enhancing urban environmental quality of Nairobi City County, Kenya between 1992 and 2022. The specific objectives of the study encompassed examining the role of UNEP in the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in Nairobi City County, assessing the impact of UNEP’s selected projects on urban environment of the County, and analysing the implications of UNEP on Kenya’s environmental diplomacy policy. The study focused on Nairobi City County between 1992 and 2022 and a key limitation to the study was restricted access to internal reports and data at UNEP. The study employed exploratory research design. Interviews and questionnaires were utilized to collect qualitative and quantitative data respectively while document review was utilized to collect secondary data. The target population comprised officials from NEMA, KWS, MFA, UNEP, Nairobi County Government, members of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Lands, KFS staff, Nairobi residents, and environmental CBO employees. The study had a total of 104 respondents out of a sample size of 130. Grounded on Liberal Institutionalism theory, the study concludes that UNEP has played a key role in the implementation of MEA in Kenya through technical assistance and capacity building to stakeholders, advocacy and awareness raising, facilitation of stakeholders’ engagements, funding and resource mobilization as well as data and information sharing. The study also established that the major environmental challenges in Nairobi City County are; air pollution, water pollution and deforestation. Secondly, the results shows that, UNEP’s support for key projects such as Green Infrastructure Project, Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) Plan for Nairobi City County, Air Quality Improvement Programmes, Sustainable Urban Transport System and Clean Energy Projects have reduced air pollution and mitigate climate change in the County. Thirdly, the study establishes that UNEP has positively impacted Kenya's environmental diplomacy by championing support for UNEP and UN-HABITAT, promoting MEA compliance, integrating environmental issues into economic activities, fostering research and innovation in environmental management, and enhancing public participation on environmental matters, thereby contributing to improved environmental quality of Nairobi City. Further, the study concludes that UNEP has enhanced Kenya’s participation in international environmental debates, position Kenya as the regional leader on environmental matters and facilitated the country’s access to international environmental funding which has improved the overall environmental quality of Nairobi City County alongside other urban centres in Kenya. The findings of this study is useful to UNEP and other international organisations involved in urban environment protection, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, MFA, academicians and environmental experts.
Description
A Research Project Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy of Kenyatta University, March 2025.
Supervisor
Evans Odhiambo Onyango