This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
On July 13, 2020, Machakos County Governor Alfred Mutua made a crucial decision to revoke the license of Endmor Steel Millers in Syokimau, a move that came in the wake of a Citizen TV exposé on the factory's environmental pollution.
The exposé, aired on July 12, 2020, highlighted the plight of Syokimau residents who were suffering from the effects of industrial pollution, including noise, water, and air pollution.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Governor Mutua revealed that the decision to shut down the factory was aimed at protecting the residents from further environmental pollution.
"They will close down by this evening. There is a matter pending in Court by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and has to be concluded. All we had to do was stop them from operating. The company will only resume after it complies," he asserted.
The governor cited the need to safeguard the lives of his county residents whose respiratory systems were reportedly being affected by the pollution as the reason behind the closure of the said company.
Endmor Steel Millers, located just after the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) along Mombasa Highway, had reportedly continued its operations despite a court case, which effectively required that they close down the plant temporarily.
Among the new directives raised by the governor was that the company must adhere to clean production processes, occupational health and safety standards, and protocols to the satisfaction of regulator NEMA and Machakos County Government.
The directives also included the provision of adequate sanitation and handwashing facilities, provision of adequate standard KN 95 masks to all workers, and adherence to Covid-19 public health rules of social distancing, use of face masks (KN 95), hand washing, and daily recording of temperatures for all workers and visitors.
File photo of Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua (Left) and Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi.
