Eight arrested in NEMA crackdown on hotels, petrol stations

Eight People have been arrested during a crackdown conducted by the National Environmental Authority (NEMA) for flouting the water quality regulation and use of banned plastic bags.

The team of NEMA enforcement officers led by Bakari Mangale, a Senior Compliance and Enforcement officer, raided several hotels and petrol stations in Malindi town and managed to arrest officials who were flouting the rules.

Those owning tourism resorts had reportedly failed to comply with the law by not paying for the annual permit to the authorities five months since the year began.

During the raid, the enforcement team which was accompanied by uniformed and non-uniformed police officers arrested several managers.

“What we know is that you have not complied, we are headed to June now and you were supposed to renew the license by January, so you will go with us to the Police station,” NEMA officials said.

Mangale said NEMA was conducting a nationwide operation on the banned plastic bags, and Water polluters.

Since the ban, Mangale said there are still people who have been using banned plastics despite the fact that it is illegal

“We are in operation for a very old regulation which is the water quality regulation of 2006 and for this one, we are looking at all establishments which generate or discharge effluent to the environment,” he said.

As per the NEMA regulations, establishments are required to pay for a discharge license.

The Senior Enforcement officer said for the Coastal Region, they have done the operation in Taita Taveta, Kwale, Mombasa and Kilifi.

“For Kilifi County, we have managed to arrest about eight who are non-compliant, and the eight are composed of the hotels, and petrol stations,” he said.

Mangale said the operation was still going on. He told those who were non-compliant to make sure they comply.

He said already those who wish to apply and pay for the license were being assisted.