PhD Candidate | Environmental Governance and Management Jimmy Owiti

Detailed description of working activity

As the County Director of Environment (CDE), I provide strategic leadership and coordination of environmental management at the county level, operating under the mandate of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the legal framework of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA), 1999. My role ensures the effective implementation of environmental policies, regulations, and sustainable development initiatives within the county.

I coordinate environmental governance by guiding the activities of the County Environment Committee and fostering collaboration among national government institutions, county departments, and sectoral lead agencies. I ensure compliance with environmental laws through oversight of inspections, monitoring of industrial and development activities, and enforcement measures, including improvement notices, restoration orders, and prosecution of environmental offenders where necessary.

A core responsibility of my role is managing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes, including reviewing EIA applications, ensuring adherence to Environmental Management Plans, and coordinating environmental audits and monitoring to guarantee that projects operate within approved environmental standards. I also integrate environmental sustainability into county development plans and coordinate the preparation of reports such as State of the Environment Reports, supporting evidence-based planning and policy implementation.

I actively promote environmental education and public awareness by organizing community outreach programs, campaigns, and observances like World Environment Day, encouraging public participation in environmental conservation. My work involves engaging key stakeholders—including county governments, private sector actors, non-governmental organizations, and research institutions—to strengthen partnerships for environmental management and sustainable development.

I oversee the monitoring and reporting of environmental quality indicators such as air and water quality, waste management systems, and ecosystem health, and I coordinate climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives, ecosystem restoration efforts, and sustainable practices such as circular economy approaches and climate-resilient development.

Additionally, I contribute to institutional capacity building by mentoring environmental officers, providing technical support, and strengthening county environmental management systems. My responsibilities also include administrative and strategic management, encompassing the preparation of work plans, budgets, and procurement plans, supervision of staff, and monitoring the performance of environmental programs to ensure alignment with national environmental objectives.

Current activity

Since June-2025-To Present: County Director of Environment (CDE) National Environment Management Authority (NEMA-Kenya)

Former activities

February, 2012 to May, 2025: Senior Environment Officer (SEO) National Environment Management Authority (NEMA-Kenya)

Education

September 2024 - Ongoing | University of Nairobi | Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental
Governance and Management
2016 - 2019 | University of Nairobi | Master of Science in Environmental Governance
2004 - 2008 | Baraton University | Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Development Studies

Memberships

• Senior Management Course (June to July 2025) | Kenya School of Government.
• Certificate of completion and participation on Regional Training on Organization and
Delivering National Spill Exercises (June, 2024) | UNEP and Norwegian Coastal
Administration, Norway.
• Certificate of Training on Environmental and Social Safeguards in Climate Change
Mitigation and Adaptation Projects (May, 2023) | The National Treasury and Economic
Planning-Kenya.
• Certificate of completion and participation on the Regional Training on Incident Command
Systems-ICS 100/200/300 for Oil Spill Preparedness and Response (May, 2023) | UNEP and
Norwegian Coastal Administration, Norway.
• Pollution Crime Investigation and Prosecution Seminar (November 2018) | U.S. Department
of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Licensed Environmental Impact Assessment / Audit Expert (January 2017)
• Sustainable Land Use Management Training (March 2017): Organized by Wangari Maathai
Institute (University of Nairobi) and University of Copenhagen.
• Certified ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management Systems: Internal Auditor (2016-2017)
• Gazetted Environmental Inspector under EMCA, 1999 (September 2014)
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Environmental Impact Assessment (August
2014)
• Basic Enforcement Training under the Environment Management and Coordination Act,
EMCA, 1999 and Organized by NEMA Kenya (April 2012)

Papers