Following media’s expose of how factories have been discharging dangerous waste into the Nairobi River, the country’s environment agency has swung into action shutting factories over pollution.
On Tuesday, Daima dairy factory in Industrial Area, Nairobi became the latest casualty of the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) crackdown.
Nema enforcement agencies arrested the factory’s operations manager.
“We are closing these facilities until they meet the required standards. This operation is focused on the Nairobi River ecosystem,” Nema acting Director-General Mamo Boru Mamo said.
Daima dairy factory operates under Sameer Agriculture and Livestock Limited which is owned by billionaire investor, Naushad Merali.
Nema officials also raided Synresins Limited where they arrested the operations manager, Mr Michael Mungai, human resource manager Yvonne Nyokabi and the chief executive officer Mira Shah.
The environment agency said the arrested suspects will be charged with failure to comply with Nema’s 2006 water regulations on discharge of waste and industrial water.
So far, Nema has closed 53 facilities for discharging waste into the Nairobi River.
