The national government wants Mombasa county to expedite the closure and relocation of an illegal dumpsite on land belonging to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.
Environment Chief Administrative Secretary Mohamed Elmi says the illegal dumpsite at the VoK area in Nyali has been an eyesore and a threat to tourism.
Elmi was speaking when he led a team of senior government officials from the National Environmental Complaints Committee and National Government Administration Officers on a tour of the dumpsite.
He called for the immediate cessation of dumping of solid waste on the 22-acre parcel, saying the mountains of garbage continue to pose a risk to the environment and public health.
“We are here to press the county authorities to expedite the process of shutting down and relocating this open dumpsite as a matter of priority,” Elmi said.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho previously led a group of residents and county askaris to bring down a perimeter wall that was being constructed by KBC, escalating the row between the county and the state-owned media house.
Since 2016, the county has refused to approve the construction of the perimeter wall, despite KBC management meeting county requirements, including payments.
“It is completely unacceptable that this dumpsite continues to operate with impunity when it blatantly violates environmental laws,” Elmi said.
National Environmental Complaints Committee chairman Justry Nyaberi said the environmental watchdog is determined to ensure the closure of the dumpsite as part of its commitment to a clean environment.
Dr Nyaberi said the county should be taking its garbage and other solid waste to the gazetted landfill site in the Mwakirunge area of Mombasa.
KBC managing director Naim Bilal wondered why it has taken long for the county government to shut down the illegal dumpsite.
Dr Bilal said the broadcaster has a land-use plan in place, but its implementation has been in limbo due to the long-standing tussle with the county.
“We have contractors who are ready to erect a perimeter wall around the land, but our efforts towards this end have been thwarted several times by the county authorities,” he said.
Dr Edwin Chokwe, head of Clean Mombasa, an environmental lobby, said the dumpsite was posing a health risk to the residents. He petitioned the Senate and the National Environmental Complaints Committee to enforce the law by closing the illegal dumpsite.
"We are calling for the immediate closure of this unsanctioned dumpsite, as well as its cleanup and rehabilitation. It is unacceptable to openly burn the debris that emits toxic gases causing air pollution, posing a threat to public health,” he said.
-Edited by SKanyara