This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
Water Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui has announced plans to improve the quality of water in Nairobi River, following a recent exposé by the Nation.
According to Chelugui, the plan involves shutting down industries that have been found to be polluting the river, with tens of them facing hefty penalties.
Chelugui revealed that 4,404 pollutants have been found in the river, and that the ministry has developed a list of industries it will sanction.
"We are making a radical proposal to end this and it will be very painful to industries," Chelugui said.
He also commended the Nation's investigative reporting, which highlighted the dangers lurking in the waters.
Chelugui has ordered the Water Resources Management Authority (Warma) to step up conservation efforts with immediate effect.
The Nation's exposé, which was published on August 15, 2019, revealed the shocking details of the river's pollution, including the presence of 12 deadly heavy metals, pesticides, and other chemicals.
The investigation, which was conducted over two months, involved a team of scientists and toxicology experts from the University of Nairobi tracing the river from its source at Ondiri Swamp in Kiambu County to its mouth in Malindi.
