Sonko Targeted In Poisonous Water Crackdown

Public officials who are responsible for polluting Nairobi River are now on target of the crackdown on poisonous waste depositors and the owners of the involved firm and companies with Governor Mike Sonko and Nairobi water company MD Nahashon Muguna on top of the list.

Water Resources Management Authority Chairman Joe Mutambu stated that the multi-agency team tackling the issue would go for managers of targeted institutions, including that of Governor Mike Sonko.

National Environment Management Authority has urged Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company’s acting MD Nahashon Muguna to present himself to their offices in Nairobi to avoid being arrested and charged.

According to media sources, Muguna narrowly escaped arrest on Monday morning when he was tipped that Nema enforcement officers were on his neck for failing to comply with an order to repair sewer lines in the city.

According to Nema, the increased trash leaking sewer lines have been polluting Nairobi River and its several tributaries. Nairobi River has several tributaries, namely: Ruiru, Kamiti, Kasarani, Karura, Gitathuru and Mathare rivers.

NEMA’s acting Director-General Mamo B. Mamo led a team to the water company’s offices on Monday morning to arrest Mr. Muguna. Mr. Mamo told the media that Mr. Muguna may have been tipped off his impending arrest and escaped. His whereabouts remained unknown as his phone remained switched off.

NEMA’s boss promised to address the serious pollution of Nairobi River, an issue highlighted in a series of articles by local media.

“Our officers have established that there are 122 discharge points that have been discharging the raw sewer into the river. So to address these challenges we must cure the root cause. We have summoned him, and made it clear that we are going to arrest him and have him charged with polluting the river,” B Mamo said.

A multi-agency team established to spearhead the city’s regeneration programme listed the water firm, Nairobi County Government and the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) as the biggest polluters of Nairobi River and its tributaries.