Kajiado County – September 6, 2024
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) conducted a series of inspections in Kajiado County today, targeting various facilities for environmental compliance. The inspections uncovered several violations, resulting in immediate enforcement actions.
One of the key findings involved Proto Gas, a facility operating a container depot for the wholesale and retail of liquefied gas. NEMA discovered that Proto Gas is situated in a residential area, a direct violation of the conditions outlined in its Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) license. NEMA immediately directed the facility to halt the storage of filled gas, implement a risk management plan in the short term, and relocate to a commercial area in Kitengela, in compliance with EPRA standards and license requirements.
In a separate inspection, Heri Millers, a production facility, was shut down, and one individual was arrested for operating without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license. The mill had previously been issued an Improvement Order, which it failed to comply with, leading to the enforcement action.
NEMA reiterated the importance of environmental compliance and urged the public and businesses to ensure that they acquire the necessary licenses for new projects, including EIA licenses for developments and Effluent Discharge Licenses for discharging facilities. NEMA also reminded businesses to provide their compliance documents when visited by gazetted environmental inspectors.
These actions underscore NEMA’s commitment to ensuring environmental safety and adherence to regulatory standards in Kenya.