By Julius Kasuva

The smooth management of the EASTRIP will largely depend on compliance with environment and social safeguards as stipulated in the Project Operation Plan (POM). The Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Committee holds regular status review meetings and workshops for purposes of monitoring adherence to safeguard activities, and also coming up with strategies to ensure that environmental and social safeguards are integrated in the activities of the EASTRIP.

The GRM Committee held a workshop from 10th to 12th May 2023 for monitoring and evaluation of safeguard issues as well as scheduling activities that guide the achievement of safeguard status review. The objectives of the workshop included: undertaking a retrospective analysis of safeguards activities since the inception of the project and coming up with a guide for the way forward. It also aimed at inducting new members on safeguards standards as stipulated in the World Bank policies.

 Mr. Ali Mwinyi Mshindo (in front), Waa Community Committee Chairman attending the (GRM) Committee workshop.

Participants of the workshop included; Ms Mary Muthoka, Chief Principal; Kevin Ochieng, Centre Leader; Paul Omolo, Environment and Social Safeguards Officer; Lucy Ndemo, Deputy County Commisioner; Godfrey Wafula, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) County Director of Environment; Kalvin Rashid , NEMA Environment Officer; Bakari Omar Chuphi, Chief; Hamisi A. Mwangovya, Assistant Chief; Ali Mwinyi Mshindo, Waa Community Committee Chairman; among other officials.

The Writer is the Registrar, Kenya Coast National Polytechnic College