Barasa warns establishments discharging effluent directly to water sources

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa, has directed the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to undertake immediate, transparent, uncompromising and comprehensive inspections of all facilities discharging waste into rivers and tributaries.

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

“It is estimated that over 70 per cent of wastewater 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 further decried that the Nairobi river system has been transformed into a channel of contamination, warning 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.

“Discharge of untreated wastewater is a direct assault on our environment and primary driver of pollution,” she stressed.

The CS declared firm action against facilities engaging in open burning of waste, failure to segregate waste at the source, absence of color-coded bins for waste separation, facilities operating without a valid emission licence, and riparian encroachment while disclosing plans to enforce strict requirements on waste tracking and documentation.

“We extend our support to those willing to comply and transition toward sustainable practices. The era of ‘pollute now pay later’ is over; compliance is not optional but a legal and moral obligation,” assured the CS Environment.

According to CS Barasa who spoke on site, the inspection was informed by pollution of urban rivers, which he noted was due to multiple industrial effluents, leaking untreated sewer systems and solid waste run-off, leading to long-term environmental degradation and public health crises.

 By Anne Kangero