- The restoration order came after Nema officers inspected various points within the Nairobi River catchment on January 18.
- According to Nema, the companies' waste that had gathered in the waterways obstructed water movement and presented a risk of flooding and water contamination.
Image: NEMA KENYA/X
The National Environment Management Authority today assessed the cleaning of the Nairobi River by companies identified as polluters of the rivers.
Nema had earlier listed 29 companies whose products and packaging materials were found along the Nairobi Rivers and tasked them with cleaning up the rivers.
The restoration order came after Nema officers inspected various points within the Nairobi River catchment on January 18.
According to Nema, the companies' waste that had gathered in the waterways obstructed water movement and presented a risk of flooding and water contamination.
In a statement on X, Nema said some companies have complied with the directive and cleaned sections of the rivers.
"Through various engagements, some of these have reacted subject to the restoration orders issued by the authority by cleaning sections of Nairobi River," Nema wrote.
The environment management authority lauded the companies for doing their part in ensuring that the environment is safe and rivers are free from pollution.
"Some have begun complying with the restoration orders and this step is crucial in ensuring our rivers remain free from pollution," Nema said.
The authority said Nema enforcement director Ayub Macharia led a team of officials and police officers in assessing the progress made in cleaning areas around Mathare River.
The cleaning of the rivers was agreed upon in a previous meeting between Nema and the Packaging Producer Responsibility Organisation, Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organisation, Kenya Hazardous Waste Producer Responsible and EPROK.
During the meeting, the PROs argued that their members were willing to cooperate with Nema to implement Extended Producer Responsibility.
Nema said exercise is part of Section 13 of the Sustainable Waste Management Act.
The Act requires the manufacturers to take accountability for the waste generated by the products they bring to the Kenyan market.
The Sustainable Waste Management Act was enacted on July 6, 2022, and includes provisions known as EPR, which imposes liability on producers for environmental pollution.
The EPR, according to Nema has the potential to promote the circular economy while keeping the environment clean.
Before the enactment of the Act, only members of the public found littering would be held responsible.
Section 30 (1) states that a person who fails to manage waste following this Act shall be required to clean up and restore the site, where the waste was being managed to its natural state.