Submit a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to NEMA for a policy, plan or programme
National Environment Management Authority · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Talk to NEMA first so it can advise whether your policy, plan or programme needs an SEA. If it does, prepare the report under the National SEA guidelines, hold a stakeholder validation workshop, then submit 5 hard copies and 1 electronic copy of the final report and pay KSh 1,000,000. NEMA gives approval with conditions within 180 working days.
- Fee
- KSh 1,000,000SEA processing and monitoring fee
- How long
- Within 180 working days
- Where
- At NEMA (submit the final SEA report copies to NEMA)
What you need
- Five (5) hard copies and one (1) electronic copy of the final SEA report
- All documents required by the National SEA guidelines
- Approvals from the relevant lead agencies or government institutions
Steps
- Follow NEMA's SEA administrative procedures so NEMA can advise whether your policy, plan or programme needs an SEA.
- Prepare the SEA and all documents as set out in the National SEA guidelines, and get approvals from the relevant lead agencies.
- Pay for the advertisement of the draft SEA report, then hold a validation workshop with the public and stakeholders.
- Submit 5 hard copies and 1 electronic copy of the final SEA report to NEMA and pay the KSh 1,000,000 fee.
- NEMA reviews the report and issues approval with conditions within 180 working days.
Watch out
- Not every policy, plan or programme needs an SEA, so ask NEMA before you start.
- You also pay the cost of advertising the draft report, on top of the KSh 1,000,000 fee.
- Approval comes with conditions, and you are expected to monitor and evaluate the policy, plan or programme afterwards.
Who can apply
- Owners of policies, plans and programmes (PPPs), such as government bodies, counties and developers of large master plans.
Official sources (3)
- NEMA Service Charter 2025-2027 (booklet) nema.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- SEA Guidelines nema.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- NEMA Customer Service Delivery Charter 2025-2027 nema.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026