The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) denied claims of the issuance of new penalties for environmental breaches including a Ksh6 million fine for not having dustbins in cars.
Speaking to kenyans.co.ke on Friday, February 17, officials from NEMA stated that the new penalties issued were effected by the environmental authorities in Uganda and not Kenya.
Additionally, NEMA directed Kenyans to find the stipulated guidelines and regulations for waste management, including issued penalties in the act last updated in 2006.
Moreover, the latest Act released by the Authority was the 2022 Air Quality Regulations Act.
“All the penalties are embraced in the Kenyan Act. NEMA has not issued any new penalties or released any new Act,” an official from NEMA explained.
Reports had earlier circulated on social media that NEMA Kenya had issued new environmental violations penalties, including noise pollution and poor waste management.
Penalties were also issued for disposing of waste on the roadside, litter from commercial buildings, and disposal of rubbish in river streams, channels, or lakes.
According to the reports, the penalties, issued in Uganda shillings included a UGX10 million (Ksh342,921) fine for emitting noise beyond permissible levels, a penalty of UGX100 million(Ksh3,429,216) for manufacturing, importing, selling, or using plastic carrier bags.
Additionally, a UGX6 million (Ksh205,752) fine was issued for those found disposing of waste on the roadside, and a UGX6 million(Ksh205,752) fine for littering from a commercial building.
Disposing of rubbish in a lake, river or stream earned one a penalty of UGX6 million (Ksh205,752) while destroying or damaging wetlands earned one a penalty of UGX3 million (Ksh102,876).
Failure to conduct environment and social impact assessment or environmental risk assessment earned UGX1 billion (Ksh34,292,161) for individuals or 15 years imprisonment while coorporate organisations and factories were finned a sum of UGX6 billion (Ksh205,752,967).
On Wednesday, February 8, NEMA Uganda Executive Director Barirega Akankwasa, stated that the regulations would take effect from April 1, 2023.
