1000 Kenyans might be left jobless if the latest move by MPs to push for the closure of London Distillers Kenya is effected.
On Tuesday, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee accused the management of the alcoholic manufacturer of failing to comply with several environmental directives.
The committee, led by Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki, warned that the company will be shut down if it does not employ the latest technology to curb pollution.
[caption caption="Kareke Mbiuki"]
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The company's Mavoko plant has employed around 1000 Kenyans and this could mark the end of their source of livelihood.
The liquor manufacturer, in its defense, argued that issues were bound to arise in a residential area that came up while the company existed and insisted that it complied with all regulations.
“We are continuing to make efforts to comply with NEMA regulations and are making quarterly reports as needed," stated the company's lawyer Martin Oloo.
The Managing Director Avin Galot was also put on the spot for failing to honour a summon to appear before the committee.
“We were clear that we needed a copy of your passport to ascertain if you had truly been out of the country at the time of summoning,” reiterated Mr Mbiuki.
According to Njoro MP Charity Chepkwony, expectant women have also been affected by emissions from the company.
“You ignore commendations and matters on environment. It is disheartening that pregnant women are also being affected by the dangerous emissions from your company,” she remarked.
The war between the firm and the surrounding residential areas has been brewing for a while and early this year, the distillery wrote to NEMA, arguing that Great Wall Gardens sits on an industrial zone and should, therefore, be brought down.
“We request Erdemann Property Ltd to demolish the said residential properties on the affected plots, failure to which we request the Director-General NEMA to issue demolition orders forthwith,” wrote Mohan Galot, the billionaire who owns the distillery, in the letter dated February 5, 2018, to NEMA boss Geoffrey Wahungu.
[caption caption="Avin Galot"]
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