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Debate at Kenyatta University on Sustainable Management

KAS Kenya organized a debate workshop on sustainable management in the Kenyan context at Kenyatta University Nairobi on 21st February 2017.The activity focused on the status and challenges of sustainable management.

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Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Kenya organized a debate workshop on sustainable management in the Kenyan context at Kenyatta University Nairobi on 21st February 2017. The activity focused on the status and challenges of sustainable management which is a key challenge to development and peace, as it is interlinked with many other development and security tasks in Kenya. Finding ways to support reasonable possibilities to assist people in having the capacity to direct economic, social, and environmental resources toward sustainable outcomes that improve lives and communities is therefore critical to sustainable social and economic development.

The comments of the expert-discussion helped to update the knowledge on the status of sustainable management in Kenya and to gain in depth analysis as well as to finalize the above mentioned study to become significant and to gain in depth analysis for future use and purposes.

The workshop brought together 42 students drawn from various faculties and departments from the Kenyatta University. Participants were taken through the models of sustainability where the convergence of the environment, economy and the society were highlighted.

The workshop focused on discussions on the term sustainable development in the Kenyan context with participants also learning intersections on the provisions of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 within the scope of the environment, education, water, food and health sectors.

The debate elicited varied reactions from the participants as follows; Participants noted that the challenges being raised could be addressed through a statutory framework and they were keen to know if there exists a legal or policy framework on sustainable management in Kenya and what they provide for with regards to the environment, quality education and water.

With Kenya now in its fourth year of devolution, focus is shifting to counties as very critical actors in sustainable management. However, it was observed that the National Climate Change Action Plan has not been prioritized or implemented across all counties thus negating national efforts towards climate change management, preparedness and mitigation. It was observed that the food security situation in the country is compromised by lack of early warning systems and thus there is a need to invest in them as a way of ensuring food security in the country.

The climax of the workshop was when the participants realized that there is need for sound management in order to ensure the realization of the strategic development plans and to help the country attain sustainable development. This is in noting that good governance is essential for sustainable management.

Even though there is a high level of knowledge available on sustainable development and management, there still exists a huge gap between theory and practice. The debate also revealed that communities lack the appropriate knowledge on sustainable environmental practices and there was also a fragmented approach to sustainable development thus making it difficult for impact to be achieved.

Another challenge is on statutory frameworks where although there are sufficient laws and policies in place that address sustainable management, there is a low level of awareness by the participants and communities about them. The third challenge is on the lack of sound leadership and management which results in weak institutions charged with ensuring that the country attains sustainable management. This was evidenced from the various contributors who pointed out at corruption as a key challenge facing sustainable development in the country.

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Venue

Kenyatta University, Kenya

Contact

Antonie Maria Hutter

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