N.E.T Issues Order on Syokimau Air Pollution Case

In August 2020 the National Environment Tribunal held a virtual hearing in the matter of Endmor Steel Millers Ltd. versus National Environment Management Authority and interested parties.

The tribunal ordered that the factory closed for seven days and the parties in the matter to agree on modalities for measurement of ambient air quality and emission measurement and report to back by September 4, 2020.

Initial tests conducted by SGS for the National Environment Management Authority indicate the concentration of toxic gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide is above the level allowed even in industrial areas.

With the factory being located in a residential area, its operations have resulted in respiratory illnesses affecting several residents of Syokimau.

During a meeting between representatives of the residents, Machakos County government and Endmor, the steel mill reported that they had installed equipment to address pollution and agreed to let SRA assemble a team of experts that would visit the factory to conduct an audit of the emissions and sound pollution. Endmor will then comply with all the requirements and recommendations from the experts.

After Citizen TV highlighted the negative impact of operations of Endmor on residents of Syokimau in July, the company sued Royal Media Services Ltd., the owner of Citizen TV, and journalist Enock Sikolia for defamation. Endmor is also seeking to stop further circulation of the video clip by citizen.
A meeting of residents resolved that Syokimau Residents Association would file a legal petition in court to have Endmor relocated from the estate as there is zero chance of co-existence.

Residents have previously referred the matter to the National Environment Tribunal in 2016 and the residents association wrote to the Kenya Association of Manufacturers in September 2018 before filing a complaint at the National Environment Management Authority in January 2019