This archive report was first published on 16 July 2020.
On July 16, 2020, the Environment and Land Court made a landmark ruling in favor of residents of Owino Uhuru slums in Chagamwe, Mombasa County, ordering the government and two private investors to pay Sh1.3 billion in compensation for lead poisoning.
Justice Ann Omollo found the State agencies and the private investor responsible for the factory liable for poisoning the residents, who had moved to court in 2016 seeking Sh1.6 billion in compensation for the deaths of their loved ones and ailments associated with lead poisoning.
The Centre for Justice Governance and Environmental Action Executive Director Phyllis Omido represented the residents in court, suing the ministries of Environment and Health, the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), the Export Processing Zones Authority, and Penguin Paper and Book Company.
As a result of the ruling, the State is expected to clean up the soil and water in the affected area within the next four months or pay a further Sh700 million in default.
The court also ordered the Environment and Health ministries, together with Nema, to develop and implement regulations adopted from best practices regarding lead and lead alloy manufacturing plants.
