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The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has threatened to shut down learning institutions and abattoirs in Kajiado County  for noncompliance to  environmental regulations.

The environment watch dog inspectorate and enforcement officers from  Headquarters under Rapid Environment  Response  Unit (RERA) have in the last one week been traversing  satellite towns of the vast County  cracking the whip on non compliant learning institutions and slaughterhouses.

At Umma University, the officers inspected the institution’s mega effluent discharge plant. The immediate neighbors had launched complaints of discharge of raw effluent into the open and awful smell emanating from the plant.

Salome Machua, Deputy Enforcement Director took issue with the institution for ignoring the earlier issued recommendations to rectify the plant.

Abdi Swalah,Umma University Chief Finance Officer who accompanied the team on plant inspection was at pains to explain failure by the institution to comply with outlined regulations despite being given a notice and compliance grace period.

At Isinya slaughter house, the officers decried poor disposal of waste water characterized by overflowing ponds. Like most abattoirs in Kajiado County, the management have not separated liquid from solid waste.

“We have been lenient to non compliant institutions and given them sufficient period to be compliant. It will no longer be business as usual, those found non compliant will be taken to court and charged. We will no longer tolerate excuses and arrogance which affects people’s health and create an environmental hazard,”said Macha.

Also on the radar are several estates in Kitengela town said to be notorious for releasing raw sewer to the roads. Several high-end flats associated with politicians have been earmarked and compliance notices issued.

“ We have earmarked estates which discharge raw effluent to the environment. Some rogue landlords have shamelessly set up infrastructure directing the sewer water to the nearby rivers to the exposing owater consumers downstream. Some have also destroyed infrastructure. It is also a common practice for the landlords refusing to surface when summoned but we will embark of forcefully shutting down estates,“ added Machua.

The officers also issued a stern warning on usage of single use plastic bags. Resurgence of the banned plastic bags has been witnessed lately in Satellites town of Kajiado including Kitengela, Ngong, Kiserian, Isinya and Ong’ata Rongai.