• Kibos established accused of discharging effluent into River Kibos and causing massive water and air pollution.
• The worst hit institutions are Kibos Prison, Kibos School for the Blind and Kibos Primary School
Image: MAURICE ALAL
Kibos School for the Blind in Kisumu has opposed the construction of a power generation plant by Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries Limited.
Energy Regulatory Commission director general Pavel Oimeke said the school objected to the electric power generation licence sought by the sugar mill.
It says the firm has failed to comply with environmental regulations.
Kibos, established in 2007, is accused of discharging effluent into River Kibos, and causing massive water and air pollution. The worst hit institutions are Kibos Prison, Kibos School for the Blind and Kibos Primary School.
Residents say the plant is also noisy and releases dust in the air. Company chairman Raju Chanan has denied the accusations.
In a letter dated February 14, Oimeke said the application will be suspended until the objection is addressed satisfactorily.
He directed mill to submit a written response to the commission and copied to the school, detailing how it intends to address the issues raised.
In its application, Kibos plans to generate eight megawatts of electricity to be used by cane milling and sugar processing plants, and in paper and pulp processing, ethanol, sugar refinery and a soon-to-be-established fertiliser plant.
Factory management said the grant of licence will have no adverse effects on any public or local authorities, companies, or residents.
Residents have also rejected the planned building of the power plant until the sugar miller complies with environmental conservation laws.
In a petition by more than 100 residents to the commission, they accused Kibos of massive pollution.
“We, the Nubian community of Kibos, face a lot of challenges with the pollution of River Kibos following direct discharge of raw effluent into the river by the company,” Khalif Khamisi said.
River Kibos is a source of water for thousands of residents and animals.
Khalif said there have been frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera, amoeba, dysentery and skin ailments.
He said the factory emits dangerous fumes, which ruin earning in the nearby institutions.
“We object in totality any planned expansion within Kibos sugar miler because the existing facilities they don’t value human life,” he said.
Khalif urged the ERC to reject the application for license, saying the company has bluntly refused to listen to them.
Last week, the Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Welfare visited the area to investigate the extent of environmental damage caused by the firm.
They called for the relocation of Kibos for interfering with work in adjacent institutions and threatening lives.
Committee Chairman Ali Wario (Bura) said, “We can’t allow industries to displace harmless innocent children in the name of making profits.”
The lawmakers told the company to relocate the school and ensure it has standard infrastructure or else move out.
They said any industry should improve lives, otherwise, it has no business existing. A joint committee on Labour, Environment, and Education will visit the area on a further fact-finding mission.
“We will summon the county administration, factory owners, education and Nema officers. We have witnessed the impunity and danger facing our children,” Wario said.
Muhoroni MO Onyango Koyoo demanded the relocation of the sugar mill. It must forthwith stop discharging effluent into the river, he said, adding, “With the noise, dust and air pollution, learning is impossible. We must stand up for the learners and the residents,” Koyoo said.