By THE DISPATCH DIGITAL TEAM
The Nairobi County Government has shut down a cement manufacturing company in Ngara, Nairobi, for allegedly polluting the environment. The closure was announced by Geoffrey Mosiria, the Chief Officer of the Nairobi Environmental Department, who led the operation on Tuesday.
Located near Ngara High School, the company has been the subject of numerous complaints from the school and local residents about excessive dust emissions. “The ongoing concerns revolved around the excessive dust emitted from the factory, which has been consistently invading Ngara High School, leading to respiratory and chest problems among the students,” said Mosiria. Residents in the area also reported similar issues, with dust infiltrating their homes and affecting their health.
The company was also found to be discharging untreated effluent into the Nairobi River, further contributing to pollution. Despite multiple notices from the county environmental authorities, the company failed to address these concerns. During an inspection, the county’s environmental team decided to close the factory indefinitely. The operation led to the arrest of three individuals, including a Chinese national and two locals.
Mosiria, in a statement to newsrooms, emphasised that under Governor Johnson Sakaja’s leadership, there would be zero tolerance for environmental violations. “This crackdown sends a strong message to all businesses in Nairobi County that environmental pollution and illegal operations will not be tolerated,” he stressed.