Vision:
To be a leading County in environmental management and protection, utilization of electricity, alternative sources of energy and gainful utilization of minerals in a sustainably managed and healthy environment.

Mission:
To improve the livelihoods of Kitui people through environmental management, provision of varied and reliable sources of affordable energy and increased levels of mineral investments in a sustainably managed environment.

1. Develop and implement environmental policies and regulations in the county.

2. Promotion of environmental conservation and increasing forest cover through tree growing and afforestation.

3. Mitigation and adaptation of climate.

4. Sustainable management of waste in the county.

5. Conservation of water catchment areas and rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems.

6. Create awareness and promote environmental education aimed at enhanced environmental conservation and management.

7. Build capacities to adapt and cope with adverse impacts of climate variability.

8. Support the extension of rural electrification to all county wards targeting markets, schools, institutions, health facilities, boreholes and households.

9. Identify and increase access to alternative renewable green energy to households and institutions within the county.

10. Map and document all the existing minerals within the county through collaboration within National Government and universities.

11. Provide an enabling regulatory environment to increase the level of investments for sustainable and gainful exploitation of minerals including coal, limestone, iron ore, sand, gypsum, clay, ballast within the county.

12. Mobilize communities in the mining areas to engage in participatory governance.

13. Undertake capacity building and create awareness to the residents on mineral resources.

14. Promotion of environmental conservation in the forested and protected areas in the county.

15. Formulation and implementation of Natural resource policy in the county.

The County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) II (2017-2022) outlined various programmes and projects aimed at improving the environment, energy, minerals, and other sectors in Kitui County. In the environment sub-sector, the programme focused on environmental research, tree growing and forest conservation, alternative livelihood for the communities affected by the charcoal ban, and water catchment conservation and rehabilitation.

The project to develop and review policies to enhance compliance to environmental regulations, including the charcoal management Act, wood fuel value chain policy, sand harvesting bill, and noise pollution regulations, has achieved its target of reviewing and developing two legal documents.

The tree growing and forest conservation project aimed to identify and promote droughttolerant tree species for propagation and to establish tree-growing nurseries. Although the project has only identified and promoted three drought-tolerant tree species out of the target of twelve, it has established one nursery out of the target of eighty. Furthermore, the project has promoted the commercial growing of 225,426 high-value and multipurpose tree species, which will help mitigate climate change.

The alternative livelihood project aimed to establish commercial tree nurseries, poultry and goats’ rearing to benefit communities affected by the charcoal ban. So far, the project has benefited 800 households, which has led to improved livelihoods for the affected communities.

The water catchment conservation and rehabilitation project focused on conservation and protection of river banks and catchment areas along major rivers and streams. The project aims to conserve five catchment sites and rehabilitate three water catchment sites. Although the project has only conserved three catchment sites and rehabilitated one water catchment site, it has led to improved water catchments.

In the energy sub-sector, the programme focused on promotion and adoption of renewable energy technologies, rural electrification in partnership with REA and Kenya Power, and alternative livelihood for the communities affected by the charcoal ban.

The project to promote and install solar security lights has achieved the target of installing 1,508 lights out of the target of 2,400. Additionally, the project has installed 25 solar-powered water pumps out of the target of 120, produced 20 briquettes out of the target of 120, and established seven woodlots out of the target of fifteen. Moreover, the project has trained 82 households on installation of clean cook stoves, which has enhanced the use of renewable energy technologies.

The rural electrification project aims to connect 10,000 institutions and households but has only managed to connect 8,000 institutions and households. The alternative livelihood project has established five efficient energy-saving technologies, which has improved livelihoods for the affected communities.

In the minerals sub-sector, the programme focused on the establishment of a mineral database, mapping and documentation of mineral resources and their location, quantities and quality, community sensitization and awareness creation in mineral-rich zones, and capacity building of artisanal mining groups.

The project to map and document mineral resources and their location, quantities and quality has achieved the target of documenting 80 reports out of the target of 6. Additionally, the project has facilitated ten awareness meetings out of the target of twenty and trained ten groups/associations/SACCOs in minerals rich zones out of the target of ten.

Overall, the monitoring and evaluation project has led to improved service delivery to the citizens. The land adjudication in minerals rich zones project and the establishment of cottage industries project have not achieved any targets, but the formation and capacity building of community liaison committees, as well as facilitated formation of Community Development Agreements in minerals rich areas, have each achieved five and zero targets, respectively