A government crackdown looms over 145 companies as the Ministry of Environment threatens to revoke licences and shut down factories and slaughterhouses polluting the Nairobi River.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale made it clear during a session with the National Assembly’s Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday: businesses caught discharging untreated waste into the river will have no option but to close shop. This follows the identification of factories and slaughterhouses dumping sewage and other solid waste into the river.
Duale was firm, warning that these 145 businesses must adhere to the strict standards set by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) or face immediate closure.
“We’ve reached a point where we cannot tolerate this blatant disregard for our environmental laws,” he stressed. “NEMA is working hand-in-hand with the ministry to ensure every identified polluter complies or shuts down.”
Environment CS Aden Duale during the launch of Climate WorX at Korogosho Nairobi, September 12.
Photo
Duale
Why it matters: With hundreds of jobs at risk, the ultimatum could spark a major disruption in sectors heavily reliant on these firms.
Dig deeper: The initiative to restore the once-thriving river has gained fresh momentum under President William Ruto’s leadership. His administration is taking a hard line on environmental offenders as it seeks a permanent solution to the pollution problem that has plagued Nairobi for decades.
The clean-up, which includes the hiring of 10,000 youth, marks a renewed commitment by the government to save Nairobi’s lifeblood. Over the years, unchecked dumping has turned the once-pristine river into a cesspool of industrial waste. Duale criticised Nairobi’s water and sewerage companies, accusing them of exacerbating the problem by allowing sewer lines to feed into the river.
For too long, Duale argued, political interference shielded major polluters. But with the President’s backing, the Ministry of Environment now has the political will to confront even the most well-connected offenders. “Don’t call me when we decide to deal with polluters,” Duale warned MPs. “This is a battle we’re taking head-on.”
His comments underscore the gravity of the situation. NEMA, under pressure to deliver results, is expected to ramp up enforcement efforts. Duale mentioned that the agency had already issued restoration orders to non-compliant facilities. These businesses are required to install proper treatment systems before discharging any waste into the river, in line with regulations passed under the Environmental Management and Coordination Water Quality Regulations 2006.
Duale didn’t shy away from calling out middle-class Kenyans for their role in the waste crisis, stating that informal settlements contribute less than 1 per cent of the river’s pollution. “The people producing garbage are not in informal settlements; they’re the middle class, including me and you,” he said, shifting the focus to widespread waste mismanagement.
Despite the harsh measures, the government has pledged to engage businesses and communities in long-term solutions. However, for the companies on the list, the immediate threat of closure is real, and for their workers, the future is uncertain. As Duale and President Ruto prepare to join the youth in the clean-up effort, it’s clear that the government’s patience has run out.
Zoom out: The Nairobi River, once a symbol of the city’s vitality, now lies at the heart of a high-stakes environmental battle. The next few weeks will determine whether the businesses can clean up their act—or if they will fall victim to the government’s sweeping action.
Undated photo of social workers cleaning Nairobi River
File
