1. Eric Mwangi
F16/35631/2013
FCE 392 Environmental Science
Lecturer: D.M. Wanjau
THEROLEOF
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERINGON
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
WITHCASE
STUDIESIN
KENYA.

2. Table of Contents
Table of Contents............................................................................................................................1
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................2
Economic Growth and the Role of Environmental Engineering ..............................................................2
Stages of Economic Development...................................................................................................3
Kenya’s Economic development ......................................................................................................5
Case studies ...................................................................................................................................5
Konza Techno City.......................................................................................................................5
Standard Gauge Railway............................................................................................................10
Underground Water Aquifer in Turkana County ..........................................................................13
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................15
References.......................................................................................................................................17

3. Introduction
A prosperous country is one in which the citizens have access to all the different amenities that
allow them to enjoy a healthy and dignified life. Although individual happiness and wellness are
not quantifiable, it is possible to gauge the general level of a country’s well-being by analysing
some general aspects of its citizen’s lives such as the gross domestic product per capita, human
capital resources, health and safety, security, education, governance and social freedoms. The
gross domestic product per capita or GDP/Capita, is the most widely used measure of general
prosperity. It the measure of the monetary value of all the finished goods and services that a
nation produces including public and private consumption, government spending, foreign
investments and exports divided by the total population in the country. The GDP/Capita
assumes that the prosperity of a society is tied to how much income the individuals get.
However, the prosperity of an individual is influenced by many other factors apart from income.
In considering the health and general well-being of a person as well as the social freedoms they
enjoy, it is possible to paint a better picture as to what constitutes a prosperous and happy
nation. (Benny, 2009)
EconomicGrowthandtheRoleofEnvironmental
Engineering
In order to encourage economic growth in a country, finite resources must be utilized in the
most efficient way possible, giving the greatest benefit to the most number of people. This
means that there are more able bodied and healthy individuals who are able to contribute even
more towards development, leading to a ripple effect in which the better the quality of life in a
country is, the easier it is for the people in that country to improve it exponentially. However,

4. without proper management of natural resources, this exponential growth can be cut short
abruptly. Engineering by definition is concerned with the design and bringing together of
existing technologies in combination with innovative techniques and concepts to create
structures and systems which can then be used to the benefit of the general public.
Environmental engineering more specifically is concerned with how the principles of
engineering can be applied towards ensuring that the environments in which people live in
have the best conditions possible. This means that environmental engineering directly
influences the economic growth of a nation in that the proper management of the resources
available increases the country’s potential for development. (Himbara, 1993)
Stages of Economic Development
Economic development is classified into three main stages, primary, secondary and tertiary. All
countries can be considered to be at a point between any of these three stages though
sometimes it is hard to clearly measure at which level a country is due to the many variable
characteristics that define these stages.
1. Primary/Subsistence/Production based economy
These are the poorest countries in which the main source of income for the citizens and the
country is basic production of goods such as food and agricultural materials. There is minimal
value addition in terms of manufacturing or processing industries. These countries though have
the greatest potential in terms or natural resources available and a large amount of human

5. capital. Countries at this stage are most vulnerable to environmental degradation as they rely
heavily on natural resources.
2. Secondary/Commercial/Industrial economy
Countries that are this stage of their development have transitioned from production to
manufacturing and processing of raw materials. There are opportunities for skilled and
unskilled labour in the industries and technology is applied at the basic level to facilitate more
efficient production. It is at this stage of economic development that the biggest negative
impacts to the environment occur; especially from the use of outdated technology and less
efficient production techniques. Factories and industries usually affect the environment directly
through pollution of the air and water by the wastes and by products of production.
3. Tertiary/Knowledge/Service based economy
The third and most developed stage is the knowledge economy. Here there is a high level of
specialization of labour and advanced technology is used to ensure that there is efficient
production of all goods. Since technology and better manufacturing processes are used, the
impact of industries on the environment is reduced to some degree although this is offset by
the increase in pollution from the general public whom with a large disposable income become
heavy consumers of perishable products.
At every level of development, there must be systems in place that allow for the proper use of
resources while still preserving them for future use. Environmental engineering plays an
important role in this by coming up with systems, structures and technologies that help spur
economic growth while exploiting the environment in the least way possible. (Bigman, 2002)

6. Kenya’s Economic development
Kenya is a secondary economy that relies on agriculture, tourism, mining, manufacturing
industries, energy and financial services to drive it. In 2015 the economy of the country grew by
between 4% and 5% according to the World Bank: fuelled by investments in construction and
infrastructure, ICT technology and financial services. Kenya is considered the economic hub of
the East African region and is targeting increased levels of development.
Case studies
In 2008, Kenya launched a grand plan to ensure that the country’s economy reaches middle
income status by the year 2030. This development program dubbed Vision 2030, consists of a
series of five year midterm goals with its ain pillars being the social, economic and political
pillars. A number of flagship projects were set out whose objectives were to propel the
movement of the economy into the middle income status. In order for these projects to be
considered successful and to reap the most benefits to the people, their implementation and
management has to be keenly focused on. The role of environmental engineering in this
implementation and management is not a small one since various factors have to be considered
such as the environmental costs of establishing the projects, the effect that the finished
projects will have on the environment and whether the projects will be able to be self-
sustaining.
Konza Techno City

7. Background
The Konza Techno City is a development project in Kenya’s Eastern province that is envisioned
to be the technological development hub of the region. The project is a multifunctional one set
to host various different businesses, educational institutions, entertainment and recreational
areas, health, and housing amenities all relatively accessible and in close proximity to their
support systems. 5000 acres of land in Makueni County has been set aside for the project and
in total its estimated costs are over 1 trillion Kenya shillings. The project is to be completed in
phases with the first phase of a 400 acre development currently in its initial stages. (BBC, 2013)
Significance to economic development in Kenya and how it relates to the
environment
The Konza Techno City is designed to spur the economic growth of Kenya and the greater east
African region by encouraging foreign investments in the country as well as creating an

8. environment in which technology and innovations can emerge, further spearheading economic
growth. The establishment of this city means that support systems for the people working and
living within its boundaries must be set up and this has a direct environmental impact. (Thuita,
2011)

9. The construction of the city as well as the relevant infrastructure such as roads and sanitation
services like any other construction project, will have a direct impact on the environment due
to the excavation and use of raw materials needed to build it. In addition to this, energy will
have to be generated to ensure that there is electricity to run the city and for its residents and
industries to use. There will also be waste materials produced by the inhabitants of the city and
because of its scale in terms of size this waste can cause serious environmental damage if it is
not managed properly.
In order to ensure the success of KTC, environmental management systems must be put in
place that closely monitor the design, construction and running of the development at every
level to ensure that its ecological footprint is kept at a minimum while still reaping the
economic benefits that it will provide (World Bank Group, 2016). Sustainable policies should be
adopted at this early stage that will govern such areas as construction and development of
infrastructure in the most environmentally friendly way possible, management of the available
resources in not only development, but afterwards in the running of the City and creation of an
environmentally friendly culture in all the future residents of the city whether corporate or
individual in order to ensure that there is an active push to reduce the negative impact that
development has on the environment. This management is important not only in ensuring that
the country plays its part in sustaining the environment, but will also go a long way in ensuring
that some of the local problems brought about by climate change are mitigated. Issues like the
availability of water for human consumption and agriculture, or the quality and health of the
soil in the area are directly affected by the development of the project and this has direct
impacts on the indigenous inhabitants of the area. If proper management of these natural

10. resources is not carried out, there will be the potential to not only resist the city itself, but also
the resurgence of conflicts as a result of the limited resources available for these people to use.
Mitigationof Environmental Impact
The Konza City Development is geared towards innovation and the development of technology
as a global product or service. This means that there is the potential for new processes and
systems to be developed either directly within the city or as a result of work carried out within
the city, which will help improve the systems of managing the environment. Inventors and
investors will be able to tap into a vast knowledge and resource pool that will allow them to
build technologies that can help mitigate the effects of climate change and environmental
degradation. (Bigman, 2002) These technologies may come in different ways such as mobile
technology, energy generation and conservation and alternative sources of fuel and energy.
These developments will be beneficial to the residents and organisations housed in KTC as well
as the greater region and even the world as the field of science continues to seek ways to
reduce the impact humans have had on the environment and even reverse some of the
negative impacts that have arisen due to these activities.

11. Standard Gauge Railway
Backgroundoftheproject
Another flagship project of Kenya’s vision 2030 plan is the building of a standard gauge railway
from the port city of Mombasa through Nairobi and onwards to the border town of Malaba till
the capital city of Uganda, another branch of the railway line will go on to the Kigali in Rwanda
and to the South Sudanese city of Juba. The railway follows the current metre gauge railway
that was laid by the colonialists in the early 1900’s and which till today is the only existing and
functioning railway in the country.

12. Significance to economic developmentin Kenya
The building of this railway is set to greatly improve the economies of not only Kenya but the
greater East Africa region by facilitating the quicker and more efficient transportation of people
and goods across the region. Mombasa is the biggest port in the region and the SGR will allow
for goods to be transported directly from the port to where they are needed inland. The design
of the railway s projected to carry 22 million tons of freight a year by 2035.
This means that the process of production within the country will not only be faster but also
cheaper, leading to increased investments form foreign nations that would like to take
advantage of more efficient production and supply. It also directly translates to more products
being made available for export from within the East Africa borders, further increasing the
amount of foreign money being earned. (African Development Bank Group, 2014)
EnvironmentalImpactof the development
The construction of the standard gauge railway poses a lot of risks to the environment mainly
because of its sheer scale. The first phase of the project, from Mombasa to Nairobi has a route
length of 472km and with the addition of service lines and other maintenance tracks its total
length is just short of 610 kilometres. This means that the railway will need a lot of natural
resources for raw materials as well as clearing of the route in order for construction to
continue. These raw materials must be mined from the areas surrounding the route. The
railway also passes through the habitats of many animals and this means that they will be
affected too as they are not accustomed to the activity that comes with the construction and
running of the railway.

13. The environmental impact of the railway is not only limited to its construction but also in its
operation as well. The trains to be used are primarily diesel powered and they release carbon
dioxide and other gases into the air as a result of the burning of fuel in the engines. They will
also produce a lot of sound and noise pollution.
Mitigationof the impact
The design, planning and construction of the standard gauge railway must ensure that it has the
least negative environmental impact. The selection of the routes and where the support service
stations will be established should also keenly be assessed to factor in the impact that it will
have on the environment. Lastly in the running of the rail service, the trains that will be used
should be environmentally friendly: able to efficiently use fuel while producing the least
amount of emissions and noise. (Bigman, 2002)

14. Underground Water Aquifer in Turkana County
Background
Turkana County and the greater Northern region of the country has long been seen to be a
derelict and neglected area in terms of both social and economic development. The region is
characterised by extremely high temperatures and the climate is generally dry and arid. As a
result, the economic development of this region has been far slower than that of other areas in
the country. There are fewer towns, roads, industries and other infrastructure for the people to
use as a result of the limited availability of natural resources and neglect from government
planning and investment. However, in the recent past, the growth potential of the region has
sky rocketed with the discovery of viable deposits of both crude oil and water from an
underground aquifer. Between these two resources, the region and the country as a whole
have an opportunity to improve the socioeconomic productivity of Turkana. (Office of the
Prime Minister, 2009)

15. Significance of the Aquifer to Kenya’sdevelopment
Water is used in almost every aspect of life from basic drinking and preparation of food to
agriculture and as a factor of production in almost all industries. In 2013 it was discovered that
roughly 300 metres underground in the town of Lokitipi there is a giant aquifer containing
almost 200 million cubic meters of water. An aquifer is a natural geological feature formed in

16. layered soil deposits. It consists of a porous layer of rock sandwiched between layers of
impermeable rock. Groundwater collects between these two impermeable layers and
eventually forms underground wells. These wells can the span many kilometres and in the case
of the Lokitipi well it extends all the way to South Sudan and Ethiopia (Oxfam Uk, 2013). This
deposit has the potential to not only supply the residents of that region with water for
household use but it is also large enough to be used to support any industries that might be
established. This means that the aquifer has the potential to catapult the region ahead in terms
of social and economic development. (Basu, 2013)
EnvironmentalImpact
However, in order for this resource to be properly utilized and to benefit the people it must be
taken care of and managed in a careful manner. Ground water can easily be polluted by
materials deposited on the ground usually as waste in dumpsites or chemicals sprayed on the
ground such as fertilizers and pesticides. These chemicals leak into the ground and eventually
leach into the water deposits, making them dangerous for human consumption. The way this
resource is used should also be planned for beforehand in order to ensure that it is used in the
areas that will have the most positive impact across the board. (Ministry of Environment &
Natural Resources, 2000)
Conclusion
The human species is dominant over the whole biosphere and as a global society it is our duty
and responsibility to take care of the environment. The economic growth and development of
many nations has been directly tied to the exploitation and utilisation of natural resources and
as a result the world has been facing increasing environmental problems and degradation.

17. Environmental engineering is a field concerned with the management and sustainability of the
environment. This means that it plays a very important role in ensuring that the natural
resources available to a country are used in a manner that is efficient, productive and
sustainable. Economic development although important in improving the lives of a country’s
people should never be put ahead of the health of the environment as without nature and
natural resources, life on the planet would be impossible.

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