The office of the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) has given the Director General of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Mamo Boru, 21 days to address the plight of Phenom Estate residents in Nairobi.
The Ombudsman, in a letter addressed to Boru on Saturday, February 15, ordered him to provide information regarding construction works at a piece of land along Langata-Link Road, which is next to Phenom Estate.
The ultimatum followed a petition filed by the Phenom Estate Residents’ Association at the Commission’s offices, which sought the CAJ’s help to compel Boru to provide the much-needed information.
According to the Commission, the residents in August last year wrote to the NEMA boss demanding a detailed assessment report of the site and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license issued by NEMA to the project proponent.
NEMA Director-General Mamo Boru announcing the closure of a construction site on Likoni Lane, off Dennis Pritt Road in Nairobi on January 23, 2025.
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NEMA Kenya
The residents also demanded evidence of a published Kenya Gazette notice related to the project, as well as the Authority’s Record of Decision following comprehensive public consultations.
In their letter, Phenom locals gave the environment management authority one month to furnish them with information failure to which they would file a petition against NEMA.
However, as per the Ombudsman’s letter, the residents never received any response from NEMA, forcing them to approach the Commission for help.
After filing a complaint at the Commission, the Ombudsman noted that despite several letters calling on the NEMA boss to address the pending issues, Boru never responded, forcing the Commission to issue the 21-day ultimatum.
“The Director General of NEMA must facilitate access to the information and records related to the request made by Ashreen Matthews Associates on behalf of the Phenom Estate Residents’,” read part of the letter by the Ombudsman.
“Compliance with the above order must be achieved within 21 days from the date of the determination,” the demand letter added.
NEMA, a national environmental entity established in 2002, is tasked with coordinating environmental policies, plans, programmes, and projects to ensure proper management.
The Authority is also mandated with examining land use to determine its impact and carrying out surveys, which assist in the proper management and conservation of the environment.
A NEMA Mobile Air Quality Laboratory during the launch of Open University of Kenya at Konza Technopolis, August 3, 2023.
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NEMA