The National Environment Management Authority(NEMA) on Tuesday announced that it had shut down a gas-producing company located in Nairobi’s industrial area.
The company was closed after it was found to be producing waste products from its production process that are harmful to humans and the environment.
According to NEMA, the facility was closed after initial reports suggested that it was generating Calcium Hydroxide in the process of manufacturing Acetylene gas as a waste product.
”The facility was said to be generating Calcium Hydroxide in the process of manufacturing Acetylene gas as a waste product which is harmful to humans and the environment,” NEMA stated.
A photo of NEMA offices in Nairobi, Kenya.
Photo
NEMA
Initially, the company had logged a case at the court challenging the closure by NEMA, only for it to lose the suit after the court ruled in favour of the authority.
Following the ruling, the court directed NEMA to collect more samples for further analysis regarding the closing of the company.
”NEMA successfully defended its Order to close down activities of (name withheld) located at East Gate Road, off Mombasa Road in Nairobi for emitting hazardous waste to the environment,” NEMA stated after the ruling.
”Today, experts drawn from the Respondent and Appellant offices were at the facility to collect samples as directed by the court in a ruling that favoured NEMA,” it added.
NEMA has stepped up its regulatory efforts by closing many unlawful sites and companies that were found to be operating against environmental safety.
On January 22, the authority ordered the closure of a construction site for a proposed 17-story residential building featuring two to four-bedroom apartments in Nairobi’s Kilimani area.
“The Director General of NEMA has today directed the closure of the said site with immediate effect until further notice,” read part of the notice.
The site was the subject of controversy early last year, with residents accusing the company of carrying out construction works at odd hours.
Residents also alleged that the company was building on riparian land, a claim the company denied.
An aerial view of Kilimani Estate, Nairobi
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