As the country marks Mazingira Day, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has issued a positive progress report in addressing river pollution.

In a statement on Thursday, October 10, 2024, NEMA indicated that its officials had identified 145 companies responsible for polluting the water bodies in the country.

According to the authority, the mapped-out companies have derailed the country’s efforts in protecting the environment and tackling climate change.

The rivers are often a stew of plastics, detergents, disinfectants, chemical residue, and petroleum byproducts. These materials pose a danger to most people who utilise water from the rivers for their domestic use.

These pollutants also seep through the soil and contaminate aquifers.

To address the issue, NEMA has given an ultimatum to each of the 145 companies to clean the rivers polluted by their products.

“The Authority has already mapped out 145 companies polluting the rivers who have been directed to clean their waste products from the river,” NEMA’s statement read in part.

Duale’s warning

At the same time, Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale challenged NEMA to exercise its mandate by imposing punitive measures to curb pollution in Nairobi.

The CS lamented that many industries were discharging raw sewage without facing any action.

“The CS cautioned industries polluting Nairobi rivers while directing NEMA to deal with companies discharging raw sewage into the rivers,” NEMA added.

Besides acting on industries, CS Duale directed NEMA officials to identify where garbage collected by different companies in Nairobi is dumped and if the collectors follow the prescribed procedures.

He further vowed to gazette a colour-coding mechanism for waste found in one’s home to separate recyclable and non-recyclable waste.

The CS made the remarks while leading the country in cleaning up the Arboretum segment of the Nairobi River to mark this year’s Mazingira Day.

During the exercise, CS Duale indicated that the government is determined to clean the Nairobi River in the next 18 months.

“What you see behind me is not a river, in 18 months we want to see a clean Nairobi. We have put on notice companies, slaughterhouses, Nairobi sewerage companies,” he made it clear.

PICTORIAL: Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale leads Kenyans in cleaning the Arboretum segment of Nairobi River to mark this year's Mazingira Day; accompanied by Principal Secretaries Gitonga Mugambi (Forestry) and Aurelia Rono (Parliamentary Affairs). pic.twitter.com/TyOIaumcoN

— Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry (@Environment_Ke) October 10, 2024