A human rights lobby group has called on the Kenya Ports Authority management to come up with ways to mitigate the environmental pollution at berths eight and nine at the Mombasa port.
Commission for Human Rights and Justice said the clinker being offloaded at the two berths not only poses environmental risks but also puts the health of workers there in danger.
CHRJ executive director Julius Ogogoh wants the National Environmental Management Authority to visit the two berths and probe whether the operations at the two berths are acceptable.
“The said berths have been emitting noise, fumes and deleterious dust to the environment and the said commercial areas and its environs making them uninhabitable,” said Ogogoh in a letter to Nema.
The dust particles, he said, are carcinogenic and have severe effects on the health of the workers including respiratory diseases and skin cancer.
He accused Nema of doing little to arrest the situation.
“In our database, we have documented employees affected by your negligence for failure to put stern measures during the operation at the said berths eight and nine,” Ogogoh said in the letter.
Ogogoh said the environmental watchdog has failed in its mandate to ensure a clean and safe working environment in violation of Articles 26 and 42 of the Constitution and breached the provision of a section of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act.
He demanded copies of the permits Nema issued to the KPA.
“We demand your god office to supply us with copies of permits and environmental assessment reports proving confirmation of compliance,” said Ogogoh.
“Unless the KPA stops, complies with and compensates the said affected employees, we will seek redress under Article 70 clause (1) (2) section (a), (b), (c) and relevant provision of the law to demand your immediate transfer/paralyse the operation at the KPA,” said Ogohgoh.
KPA, in a report, said they did all due diligence and came up with mitigating measures.
“An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study was undertaken to identify the possible impacts that would arise as a result of the activities of the proposed projects on both the natural and social environment and to design measures that would mitigate the impacts,” read a KPA report in part.
“The study included a detailed description of the proposed project activities; baseline information defining the project site; justification for the project; consideration of alternatives; Policy, Institutional and Legal Framework; and Public Consultation and Participation. Through this exercise, the impacts of the proposed development were xiv identified; mitigation measures proposed in an Environmental Management Plan; and a Monitoring Plan developed,” the KPA report read.
Nema said a site visit will be conducted to assess the situation before any necessary action is taken.
