The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is in the process of rolling out and enforcing air quality regulations.
The regulations which were gazetted few years ago mostly target automobiles and factories.
The Embu County NEMA Director, Boniface Birichi while speaking on Thursday during the county’s celebrations to mark the World Environment Day in Embu town said in the regulations, factories and automobiles are required to put up measures that ensure residents neighbouring them were not affected by their activities.
“We want factories to take the responsibilities of ensuring the neigbouring residents are not affected by factory
emissions,” noted Birichi.
The director also noted re-emergence of plastic paper bags which were banned a few years ago, adding that the country was now on rapid result initiative to eliminate plastics and water pollution.
“In the coming few weeks you are going to see a lot of action and this is not an issue of NEMA alone but we are going to do it as an inter-agency activity where we are going to involve main stake holders,” he added.
He warned those still dealing with plastic papers to continue doing so at their own risk of prosecution followed by hefty fines.
“NEMA is in the process of appealing against the current low fines accorded to culprits by the courts though fines on environmental crime ranges from Ksh.2 Million to Ksh.4 Million,” he observed.
He observed that the hefty fines will deter those engaging in the illegal activity and those intending to engage from the activity.
On water quality he said NEMA is focusing on those who are encroaching on riparian and those releasing waste into the environment, urging business community to take care of their dirt water.
Patrick Njagi, County Director of Environment and Natural resources said the ministry in partnership with scout Movement was in the process of securing 10, 000 tree seedlings to be distributed in the learning institutions among others.
Njagi further noted that the ministry will soon provide bins in towns depending on the nature of rubbish for waste collection.
The NEMA in Embu County did not participate in international world environment day celebration on June 5 but rescheduled it for today.
By Kimani Tirus
