Tuesday, 20 May, 2025
Environment Committee reviews the Meteorology Bill, 2023 and the Environmental Professionals Institute of Kenya Bill, 2024
Monday May 19, 2025
Members of the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Environment Forestry and Mining Chaired by Hon. Vincent Musyoka today reviewed the proposed amendments in 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).
Having gone through the two Bills, the lawmakers proposed that they be proceeded with subject to a few proposed amendments which are intended to enreach the Bills.
Commitee Vice Chairperson Hon. Charles Kamuren (Baringo South) and Hon. Joseph Emathe (Turkana Central) proposed that the Traditional Indigenous Knowledge (TIN) be incorporated in the Meteorology Bill as a leverage to weather forecasting in the Country.
"The issue of indigenous knowledge is important here, we can't rule them out, the traditional weather forecast where some communities predict the weather by looking at animal intestines or movement of birds has proven to be accurate, there is need to incorporate it in this Bill", Hon. Kamuren said.
On the same Meteorology Bill, the Hon. Members noted that the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority as proposed in the Bill ought to provide aeronautical meteorological services in line with the Chicago Convention on international Civil Aviation, Civil Aviation Act and the relevant regulations.
Separately, looking at the Environmental Professionals Institute of Kenya Bill, the Committee noted there was no contradiction between the Environmental Professionals Institute of Kenya Bill and Environmental Management Coordination Act (EMCA) Act with respect to the functions of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).
Additionally they noted that there ought to be a category of environmental consultants incorporated in the Bill.
The Committee Chairperson pointed out that membership categories should be clearly defined to avoid overlaps.