Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale has issued fresh orders over the pollution of Nairobi River Basin ecosystem.
Duale in a statement on Tuesday, August 14, 2024, ordered the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to start enforcing actions on all polluting facilities along the ecosystem.
The CS further said that the orders take effect immediately, adding that all NEMA restoration orders must be obeyed by members of the public.
“NEMA Restoration Orders MUST be obeyed by the regulated community,” said Duale. “NEMA has been directed to start enforcement actions on all polluting facilities along the Nairobi Rivers Basin ecosystem with immediate effect.”
Earlier, NEMA announced that CS Duale had directed the Authority to map out all effluent discharge points along the Nairobi Rivers ecosystem and to immediately take appropriate enforcement action.
This came after a team representing the Authority visited the Nairobi Rivers at City Park after receiving complaints from the public on raw sewage getting into the park.
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Pollution of Nairobi River
NEMA further said that the team led by the Director General, Mamo B Mamo visited the site and directed the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage company to immediately fix the manhole that was discharging the effluent.
“The Director General has given Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company 24 hours to fix the broken sewer lines along City Park, at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), along Kirichwa Kubwa and the discharging manhole in Kangemi,” said NEMA in a statement.
According to the Authority, the orders came after the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) failed to obey the restoration orders it issued.
Further, DG Mamo said that action will be taken against any polluter, including prosecution for non-compliance.
Nairobi River has become heavily polluted over the years due to various human activities such as dumping of untreated sewage and solid waste, industrial pollution, plastic pollution and agricultural runoff.
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The pollution has had significant impacts on the environment, the health of the people who live along the river, and the wildlife that depends on it.
Additionally, the pollution has caused the river to be choked with garbage, debris and raw sewage leading to the spread of waterborne diseases and other health problems.
The river is also highly contaminated with heavy metals and other toxic substances that are harmful to both humans and animals.
President Ruto Intervenes
President William Ruto on 22nd February 2023, led the launch of the Nairobi Rivers Commission with an ambitious plan to clean up the river basin.
The commission was part of President Ruto’s plan to improve the city’s blue-green infrastructure and ensure that the people of Nairobi can enjoy the natural beauty of the river.
Its mandate is to provide strategic direction, oversight and coordination of efforts towards the rehabilitation of Nairobi’s rivers.
The pollution of Nairobi River has been attributed to a lack of effective waste management systems, inadequate enforcement of environmental regulations by the respective agencies and insufficient public awareness and education about the importance of protecting the environment.
During the launch, Ruto said that the government under the Ministry of Environment would partner with the County of Nairobi to hire 12,770 young people and women to participate in cleaning the river and planting of trees.
The orders by Duale act as one of his first actions taken since he took over from his predecessor, Defense CS Soipan Tuya, at a brief ceremony held at the Ministry’s NHIF Building Head Office on Monday, August 13.
The changeover ceremony was attended by the Ministry’s top leadership led by Principal Secretaries Mr Gitonga Mugambi (Forestry) and Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno (Environment and Climate Change).
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