MPs demand action against firms polluting Athi River
By Anthony.Mwangi, June 20, 2023MPs want the government to revoke the licences of industries polluting River Athi and the management made to compensate for the losses incurred by the affected people.
The MPs also want all the industries dispensing effluents to the river to have functioning treatment plants.
Most of the facilities discharging waste to the river have no treatment plants while others were abandoned leaving raw effluents to flow to the river. Members of the Public Petitions Committee were on a fact-finding mission following a petition filed by Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka.
Subsequent testing of water from the River Athi revealed the presence of hazardous heavy metals and carcinogenic substances, rendering it unsuitable for human consumption.
The committee called for swift administrative action to be taken against industries discharging effluents into the river, especially those operating without Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs).
It also demanded for the immediate overhaul of the leadership at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), citing lack of dedication to fulfilling their responsibilities. The committee proposed that NEMA exclusively grant licences to factories equipped with operational ETPs. Members recommended regular and unannounced inspections while enforcing administrative measures against companies failing to comply.
The committee chaired by Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East) (pictured), proposed legislation to introduce stringent measures to safeguard vulnerable Kenyans from non-compliant industries and residential estates.