Toxic waste disposal war networks 9, closed factories

Nine people have been arrested and four factories closed indefinitely in Nairobi for not complying with waste disposal regulations.

The National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) on Tuesday morning took strong action against facilities that dispose of their waste without pretreating it.

HARMFUL

The closed companies are Daima, Sameer Agriculture and Livestock Ltd, Chloride Exide Kenya Ltd, Synresins Ltd and Ennsvalley Bakery Ltd.

Speaking during the repression, the Acting Director General of Nema, Mamo B. Memo, said: “We will continue with this exercise to ensure that our rivers are clean and that the facilities responsible for harmful discharges are closed. The standards are very clear. "

Among those arrested yesterday were Kenneth Kareithi, Daima Operations Manager, Karanja Njoroge, General Manager of Chloride Exide, Sylvia Ndung'u, Quality Assurance Manager for Ennsvalley Bakery, Mira Shah, General Manager of Synresins, and Michael Mungai, Synresins Production Manager.



The repression follows an exposure of the Nation on the contamination of the Nairobi River, which was found loaded with harmful substances such as lead, copper and mercury.

"Nema has identified 122 discharge points along the Nairobi River," said Mamo.

“Of the inspection carried out, 50 percent of the companies have complied. The ongoing inspection is to ensure that the remaining companies comply with the 2006 Water Quality Regulation, or else they will be closed and their officers processed. ”

Nema has so far leveled 53 Nairobi-based facilities that use wet processes in their operations. Eight have been closed this week.

EXHAUSTING

Mamo said the repression will be extended to the discharge of household waste along the Nairobi River after the industrial repression.

The repression revealed that, although Daima has a treatment plant, it does not treat all its waste before discharging it into the sewer system or the environment.

Meanwhile, Synresins does not have a treatment plant, while Chloride Exide treats its waste in a separate facility.

But the Director of Environment of Nema Nairobi County, Njoki Mukiri, said that all waste from industrial facilities must be pretreated before being discharged.

Synresins and Chloride Exide, which deal with industrial chemicals, were classified as high-risk facilities.

However, Njoroge, general manager of Chloride Exide, defended their operations and said they treat their waste with soda ash and send it to a storage tank inside the facilities where their effluents are stored, which are then transported to a treatment facility separated on the Athi river. .

Synresins, meanwhile, said it does not discharge toxins into the environment or sewage system, but rather an extractor collects the discharge every month.