NEMA arrests 13 traders in Kitui over lack of environmental licences
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, May 14, 2026The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has arrested 13 persons running facilities without having the necessary environmental licences issued by the authority in Kitui County.
In a statement on their X handle on Thursday, May 14, 2026, NEMA has said that the arrests were a result of a series of environmental inspections in various hotels, hospitals and petrol stations in the county to evaluate compliance with environmental legislation and waste management systems.
“NEMA environmental inspectors have arrested 13 proprietors of facilities in Kitui County operating without the requisite environmental licences from the authority. This follows environmental inspections on several hotels, hospitals, and petrol stations to assess compliance with environmental regulations,” NEMA noted in a statement.
Provisions of regulations
The authority has pointed out that the exercise was conducted based on the Water Quality Regulations 2024, which stipulate that all facilities that produce wastewater must treat the effluent before their discharge into the environment.
The regulations also make a mandatory requirement for institutions and businesses to get an effluent discharge licence from the authority for the discharge of waste wastewater.
If compliance with the rules is not achieved, the environmental watchdog warned, there would be grave consequences for human health, water sources and the environment.
“The Water Quality Regulations 2024 provide that facilities should treat their wastewater before discharging to the environment and obtain an effluent discharge licence,” NEMA added.
The Authority added that all the inspections will be continued nationwide as part of the activities to ensure environmental compliance and businesses respect the pollution control standards.
In recent months, NEMA has stepped up its measures against facilities that are breaking the environmental laws, especially in wastewater management, pollution control and improper disposal of industrial waste.
The authority called on businesses and institutions to regularise their activities through obtaining the required environmental licences and to meet all requirements of the law on wastewater treatment.