This archive report was first published on 29 June 2019.
On June 29, 2019, Samburu County authorities launched a crackdown on businesses in Maralal town, arresting 16 businessmen who own hotels and petrol stations.
The businessmen were accused of failing to comply with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) regulations on waste disposal, despite receiving improvement notices.
According to Gilbert Magut, the Samburu County NEMA director, all owners of hotels and petrol stations are required to apply for licenses, which come with different fees depending on how their facilities discharge waste into the environment.
However, the traders complained of harassment during the operations and lack of government services for the fees they are paying licenses for.
"I did not get any notice, as they say, the NEMA officials just raided my facility and arrested me," said Mr. Kareith, a manager at Yossana hotel.
Endolo Josiah, the environmental prosecutor at NEMA, said those arrested have been released on cash bail ranging between Ksh. 10,000 and Ksh. 20,000 to give them time to comply with the regulations before Tuesday next week.
"No person should release affluent or dirty water to the environment unless he has a license and actually, the penalty is fine between Ksh. 2 to 4 million or alternative of one to two years imprisonment or both," he said.
