The National Assembly’s Public Petition Committee chaired by Hon. Nimrod Mbai (Mwala) conducted a fact-finding mission across Machakos County in regard to a petition by Mwala residents on the pollution of River Athi. 

Members of the Committee together with officials from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Mavoko Water and Sewerage Company (MAVWASCO), Tana Athi Rivers and Development Authority, and Export and Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), raised concerns about the plight of Kenyans who consume water from the river polluted with raw effluent.

One of the areas that NEMA focuses on is managing the discharge of waste from informal settlements. Informal settlements often lack proper infrastructure and waste management systems, making it challenging to control the release of pollutants into the environment. 

To address the pollution challenges associated with this NEMA implements comprehensive safety measures. These measures include the establishment of proper waste collection systems, promoting awareness campaigns to educate residents about responsible waste disposal, and enforcing stricter regulations to prevent illegal dumping. 

Additionally, NEMA collaborates with relevant stakeholders, such as local governments and community organizations, to develop sustainable solutions tailored to the specific needs of each informal settlement.

The Committee proposed that NEMA incorporates technology and borrows a leaf from the Kenya Power Company (KPC) by using neighborhood groups where Kenyans act as watchdogs and share time-sensitive and relevant information which can assist them in delivering their mandate.

Hon. Mbai called for a consensus among the respective stakeholders to commit to long-term and short-term goals that will impactfully change the lives of Kenyans along River Athi. 

The Committee lauded Amalia Estate which uses an efficient treatment plant of its waste to recycle water and recommended that the MAVWASCO learn from such an example.