Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet
Secretary Aden Duale now says that the people who pollute the Nairobi Rivers
are not from the informal settlements.
Speaking when he appeared before the National Assembly
to answer questions raised by Members of Parliament, Duale said the people who
do this are the middle class.
He insisted that it is because they have surplus food
and therefore have a lot of garbage in their homes, which has to be disposed of.
“The people who pollute Nairobi Rivers are not the
informal settlements. The people who produce garbage are not in the informal settlements.
They are found in the middle class. Me and the members sitting here.
“The people who live in informal settlements, what
they cook is so little that they finish. The people who have a lot of garbage
in their homes are the middle class in Kenya,” Duale said.
The CS, however, noted that the National Environment
Management Authority (NEMA) already singled out at least 101 out of 145 entities
inspected as high contributors of waste to the Nairobi Rivers.
He said that they include industries, factories,
apartments and abattoirs, among others.
Duale said the government has already set in motion plans
to ensure all laws passed by parliament to protect the environment are adhered
to and enforced.
“NEMA has mapped out 101 industries, factories,
apartments, and slaughterhouses that discharge their effluent to Nairobi Rivers and
I want to confirm the NEMA chairman is here, he has no choice but to comply
with the law and regulations passed by this house,” Duale said.
He said his first meeting would be with the Kenya
Private Sector Alliance and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers to engage
them on how they can protect the environment.
The CS said if they cannot do this, he will ask them
to close the shop.