Contractor and homeowner arrested by NEMA for refusing to halt illegal project
The project had been halted due to a lack of the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment report
Officers from the National Environment Authority (NEMA) yesterday arrested a contractor and proponent of a construction project in Nairobi’s Hurlingham area after they defied an order to halt their operations.
According to NEMA, the project had been halted due to a lack of the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, adding that it was also found to be out of character with the surrounding neighbourhood.
“NEMA officials arrested a contractor and proponent of a construction site along Timau Road, off Argwings Kodhek Road for undertaking a project without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and disobeying a lawful order. The project is also out of character with the surroundings,” it said in their statement to the press.
The environment authority indicated that an inspection had been done earlier on by its officers after residents in the said area complained about the ongoing construction.
They stated that they had issued a stop order on the construction but the people involved denied their directive which led to their arrest.
“The Authority’s environmental inspectors and police had inspected the site yesterday following complaints by residents and ordered the site to be closed, but they continued today in defiance of the stop order leading to the arrest,” NEMA added.
The arrest comes barely a week after the environment authority also shut down Ty Woods K Factory in Nakuru after it established that the factory failed to get an Emissions License as stipulated in the Air Quality Regulations 2024.
The factory was also accused of environmental pollution hence the closure.
“NEMA has closed down Ty Woods K. Ltd located at Ketigoi area, Mau Summit, Kuresoi Sub County, Nakuru County after the company failed to comply with conditions of the Environmental Restoration Order issued on 6th August 2024 followed by an inspection undertaken in January,” said the regulator.
“The facility had fugitive emissions visible from various leakages at the boiler area and the entire facility that caused an uproar among the neighboring community due to the possible effects of such emissions,” it added.
