Kenyan Environmental Authority Closes 25 Factories

Kenya’s National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) is shutting down 25 factories after they have been found to be polluting the Nairobi River.

The factories, which include cooking oil maker Giloil Industries, stand accused of violating regulations concerning effluent discharge.

The closures have received the support of Governor Mike Sonko. “We will not allow such factories to continue operating. I want to see them closed starting today. Clinics that dump the bodies of infants into the river will also be shut down,” he is quoted as stating.

The move is part of a year long clean up of the River. Speaking on the efforts environment minister Veska Kangogo commented, “We have started seeing the results of the exercise. Water is now flowing freely on many stretches of the river and kilometres of the bank have been reclaimed and turned into recreational parks.”