NEMA Arrests 13 Kitui Facility Owners for Operating Without Licences

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) arrested 13 facility owners in Kitui County on Tuesday for operating without mandatory environmental licenses.

The arrests followed inspections of hotels, hospitals, and petrol stations across the county to check compliance with environmental regulations.

Inspectors found the 13 facilities discharging waste without valid permits from NEMA.

“NEMA will not allow facilities to pollute Kitui’s water sources and environment. Every facility must comply with the law before it operates,” a NEMA official said during the inspection.

Officials said the crackdown focused on facilities discharging effluent without treatment and without an Effluent Discharge License.

Under the Water Quality Regulations 2024, NEMA stated that all facilities must treat wastewater before releasing it into the environment and must obtain the licence from the Authority.

Enforcement of Environmental Regulations and Wastewater Treatment

Photos shared by NEMA showed inspectors at several sites, including Lacienda Resort and a hospital facility.

Inspectors spoke with staff, reviewed documents, and detained proprietors who could not produce the required paperwork.

NEMA said the arrested proprietors are held at Kitui Police Station pending processing and arraignment, and the Authority added that the facilities remain closed until they meet compliance requirements.

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“We are enforcing the law to protect public health and the environment. No one is above these regulations,” the official said.

The Water Quality Regulations 2024 make it mandatory for facilities to treat wastewater and hold an Effluent Discharge Licence before releasing any effluent and violators face fines, closure, and prosecution under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act.

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Environmental Compliance and Licensing

NEMA urged other businesses in Kitui and across Kenya to regularize their operations and apply for licenses through its eCitizen portal.

The Authority said it will continue with county-wide inspections to curb illegal discharges into rivers and waterways.

Authorities stated the crackdown is part of NEMA’s wider push to enforce compliance ahead of the 2025 rainy season, when untreated effluent poses higher risks of water contamination.

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Lacienda Resort Among 13 Kitui Facilities Inspected by NEMA Over Licence Violations. / PHOTO NEMA