Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Wednesday directed all the facilities including schools and other private establishments with asbestos roofing to remove it within the next 30 days.
While issuing the directive, CS Duale revealed that the asbestos roofing poses huge health risks warning the directors of non-compliant institutions of potential prosecution.
Duale went ahead to order the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to ensure that all private and public institutions adhere to the new directive.
"NEMA must enforce the law to ensure the environment is protected and safeguarded. All facilities in the 47 Counties must be brought under compliance," the CS stated.
The CS disclosed that he had already dispatched a notice to all the public institutions with such roofing to remove and dispose it.
CS Duale made the orders while speaking during his inaugural visit to NEMA headquarters where he held a meeting with the Board of Directors to address critical issues affecting the Authority.
To enhance the the Authority's operations, the CS vowed to fast-track the gazettement of 13 Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) regulations currently pending.
The CS also put on notice those discharging raw sewerage into Nairobi rivers and called on NEMA to engage Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company to ensure that raw sewer does not find its way into water bodies.
NEMA Chairperson Emilio Mugo assured the CS of the Authority's commitment to address various environmental-related challenges through the implementation of various environmental laws.
Asbestos which is popularly found in various government institution roofings, including hospitals, universities, education centres, as well as coffee and tea estates has been highly linked to cancer disease.
Despite the ban on asbestos usage in 2006 due to its carcinogenic effects, some residential homes still feature roofs constructed from the material.
Unfortunately, many Kenyans residing or working in such buildings remain unaware of the extent of toxic fumes they may be inhaling due to the presence of asbestos roofing.
