Decision 43 COM 7B.33

Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley (Kenya) (N 1060rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decisions 39 COM 7B.5 and 41 COM 7B.21, adopted at its 39th (Bonn, 2015) and 41st (Krakow, 2017) sessions respectively,
3. Regrets that the State Party provided only limited updated information on the implementation of the Committee’s past decisions, and reiterates its request to the State Party to address and report on the strengthening of the protection of the areas between Lakes Nakuru and Elementaita to ensure that the 2011 boundaries of the property are clearly identified to enable the State Party to deal with illegal developments, to develop and implement strict and clear regulations to prohibit developments in close proximity to fragile habitats and in the critical buffer zone of the property, including by integrating such provisions in the draft Management Plans;
4. Notes the planned boundary re-survey of the Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary, and requests the State Party to integrate the survey results and regulations on encroachment and construction into the draft Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary Ecosystem Management Plan 2017-2027, by developing and submitting a detailed map of the boundaries and the proposed zonation scheme to the World Heritage Centre for review, and to submit a proposal for a minor boundary modification in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines to formalize any changes to the boundary and the buffer zone;
5. Welcomes the progress of the State Party in addressing the ruling of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Endorois ruling through the development of a joint integrated Management Plan for the Lake Bogoria National Reserve ecosystem by the Endorois Welfare Council and the Baringo County Government and urges the State Party to: (1) expedite the development of this overdue plan and benefit sharing arrangements, (2) submit the final draft of the plan to the World Heritage Centre for review, and (3) continue its efforts to implement the above-ruling of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights;
6. Also notes that no current plan exists for geothermal exploration in Lake Elementaita and Lake Bogoria components of the property, and also requests the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre in due course of any planned geothermal exploration or other major developments in the property, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
7. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2020, a progress report, and by 1 December 2020, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session in 2021.