This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
On July 16, 2020, the Environment and Land Court ordered the government and two private investors to pay Ksh 1.3 billion to residents of Owino Uhuru informal settlement in Chagamwe, Mombasa County who were affected by lead poisoning emanating from a factory within the area.
According to the court ruling, Justice Ann Omollo also ordered State agencies responsible for the environment to clean up any remaining lead deposits within the next four months.
Failure to comply with the order would result in the State being required to pay an additional Sh700 million.
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.
The ruling was made in a case filed by 3,000 residents in 2016, seeking Ksh 2 billion as compensation for the deaths of their loved ones and ailments associated with lead poisoning.
The factory, Metal Refinery EPZ Ltd, was shut down in 2014 after causing at least five deaths due to lead poisoning.
