NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 15 – Senators have challenged Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa over what they described as weak enforcement of environmental laws, despite Kenya having one of the region’s most comprehensive legal frameworks on pollution control.

📻 Breaking It Down

The lawmakers argued that continued industrial emissions, toxic waste dumping, unsafe disposal of electronic waste and contamination of water sources point to serious gaps in implementation rather than shortcomings in legislation.

Much of the criticism was directed at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), with several senators questioning the regulator’s effectiveness in enforcing environmental standards and protecting communities from pollution.

The concerns emerged during supplementary questions following Barasa’s appearance before the Senate to respond to a question by Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana on the government’s preparedness to tackle industrial pollution, hazardous waste and toxic exposure.

📌 What You Need to Know

Kibwana sought details on enforcement measures put in place to curb industrial pollution, unsafe handling of electronic waste and illegal disposal of hazardous substances that threaten public health and the environment.

She also asked how the ministry coordinates with NEMA, county governments, public health agencies and other regulators in monitoring pollution hotspots and responding to environmental risks.

In her response, Barasa defended the government’s record, saying Kenya already has a robust legal framework anchored in the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA), the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022, and regulations introduced in 2024 covering air quality, water quality, hazardous chemicals and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

According to the Cabinet Secretary, the laws empower NEMA to inspect facilities, issue improvement notices, order environmental restoration, close non-compliant industries and prosecute offenders.

Barasa told senators that NEMA had intensified enforcement activities during the last financial year through targeted inspections and compliance programmes.

She revealed that environmental inspectors conducted operations in 101 facilities within the Nairobi Metropolitan area to curb illegal discharge of industrial waste into rivers and waterways.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya