The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has warned three public institutions in Laikipia County that they risk prosecution for polluting the environment.
Laikipia County NEMA director Fanuel Mosago said in his Nanyuki office Tuesday that top managers at Laikipia University, Nanyuki Water and Sanitation Company (NAWASCO) and Nyahururu Water and Sanitation Company (NYAHUWASCO) could face arrest any time over emission of effluent into the environment.
“The institutions have not met our set standards in terms of the water they release to the environment. We had given them a notice which has expired,” said Mosago when he visited Nanyuki slaughter house where the Authority closed down its ablution block.
However, he was quick to add that the Authority will not close down the water companies because they have complied with other essential requirements.
Mosaga noted that during the month-long crack down on effluent discharge facilities, it emerged that 40 slaughterhouses and slabs in the county could also be closed down for lack of proper waste disposal mechanisms.
He added that 70 facilities including flower farms and hotels have been given improvement orders failure to which they will be closed down.
At the same time, he said crackdown on plastic carrier bags that were banned in 2017 is ongoing, adding that two suspects have already been arrested.
Mosago who was accompanied by Sarah Njoroge, an enforcement officer said many people were still defaulting government regulation by using the banned plastic bags.
By Martin Munyi
