Pyrolysis factories in Nairobi, Kilifi, and Samburu closed by NEMA over pollution
The environment regulator emphasised the need for factories across the country to ensure environmental protection while conducting their operations
Three pyrolysis factories in Nairobi, Kilifi, and Samburu have been shut down by the National Environment Authority (NEMA) after they were found to be operating without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificates.
In a statement to the press, NEMA indicated that the factories located in Nairobi’s South C area and two others in Samburu and Kilifi Counties were found guilty of fugitive emissions, poor management of black carbon, and improper handling of extracted wires from tyres.
It announced that they have halted operations at one facility in South C, Nairobi, and two others in Samburu and Kilifi counties.
According to the Authority, the three factories were found guilty of fugitive emissions, poor management of black carbon, and improper handling of extracted wires from tyres.
NEMA has further issued the facilities with improvement notices and directed them to conduct an assessment of their emissions and ambient air quality to evaluate the environmental impact of their operations.
“The Authority issued improvement notices to three pyrolysis plants for emitting fugitive emissions, poor management of black carbon, and improper handling of extracted wires from tyres,” NEMA directed.
The environment regulator emphasised the need for factories across the country to adhere to environmental regulations to ensure environmental protection while conducting their operations.
The closure of the three factories comes a few weeks after NEMA closed a wood factory in Nakuru over environment pollution and contravening the Air Quality Regulations 2024.
It accused the company of neither having an Emissions Licence nor having implemented pollution control measures.
NEMA ordered the company to cease all operations immediately until it met the required compliance standards.
“NEMA has shut down the company located in the Ketigoi area, Mau Summit, Kuresoi Sub-County, Nakuru County, after it failed to comply with the conditions of the Environmental Restoration Order issued in August last, followed by an inspection conducted on 23 January 2025,” it said.
