NEMA ordered to inspect polluting firms discharging waste into rivers

ANNE KANGERO (KNA) AND RACHEL MOTURI

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa, has directed the National Environmental Management Authority to immediately launch transparent, thorough and uncompromising inspections of all facilities suspected of discharging waste into rivers and tributaries.

Dr. Barasa regretted that for a long-time rivers and other sources of water have suffered the cost of industrial negligence and systemic failure through uncontrol effluence.

“It is estimated that over 70 percent of waste water generated in Nairobi is discharged untreated into the environment, compounding the crisis and extending its impact downstream,” said the CS. 

Speaking in Mlolongo town of Machakos County during an inspection tour of effluent discharges into Nairobi Rivers, the Cabinet Secretary decried that Nairobi river system has been transformed into a channel of contamination.

She warned that any facility found operating without a functional effluent treatment plant, will not be allowed to continue operations.

The inspection team accompanying the CS included the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), Director General, Dr. Mamo.B Mamo, where they did an Environmental Impact Assessment at Shreeji Chemicals and Canon Chemicals in Mlolongo on their effluent discharges compliance.