The government's Lamu Coal Project that was appropriated at Ksh200 Billion was, on Wednesday, stopped by the Environment Tribunal pending further assessment.
The five bench judge tribunal that canceled the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licence did so on grounds that there was no assessment conducted.
Justice Mohammed Balala also faulted the National Environmental Management Authority(NEMA) and the Amu power for failing to conduct public participation, Capital News reports.
“The second respondent (Amu Power) is hereby ordered to cease the construction of the coal plant in Lamu until a fresh Environment Assessment Impact and public participation is undertaken, and the outcome of the report be published publicly,” ruled the tribunal.
“The second respondent (NEMA) acted in violation in issuing the first respondent (Amu power) with an operating license without having adequately involved Lamu residents in public participation as required by the law,” Balala ruled.
This ruling was joyfully received by environmental activists who had dearly staged a protest against the construction of the coal plant citing environmental pollution.
Speaking to kenyans.co.ke, NEMA chief corporate communications manager Evans Nyabuto clarified that Amu power had been allowed to submit another EIA study to NEMA for fresh consideration.
