The Mountain Journal
The county Government of Kirinyaga has launched a major
crackdown against owners of buildings discharging sewage
into river Thiba and Nyamindi.
The crackdown which began on Tuesday, saw four owners of residential
and commercial buildings nabbed for directing their sewer lines into river
Thiba. The four are set to appear in court charged with violating the Public
Health act.
Governor Anne Waiguru has warned owners of buildings
against disposing their untreated effluent into the rivers.
Photo/ An exhauster on the road
Waiguru has further directed the department of
Environment, Energy, Climate Change, Natural Resources, Water and Irrigation
Services to undertake cleaning of the rivers and other sources of water.
The governor has asked residents to remain vigilant and
report cases of sewer lines that are being directed into rivers.
The crackdown is being undertaken by a multi-agency team
from the County Government, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
and the Ministry of Interior and National Coordination.
County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services,
Public Health and Sanitation George Karoki said that building owners
constructing near rivers should ensure that their premises have septic tanks
that would eventually connect to the upcoming county sewer system.
“It is very important to understand and note that issues
of water pollution will cause very serious damage to our health as well as our
environment. We urge the community to take care of our rivers and heed to
environmental regulations on the waste disposal system,” said Karoki.
He cautioned that with the outbreak of cholera reported
in some parts of the Country, draining sewage into rivers is unhygienic and
could cause disease outbreak.
“We have formed a committee that is moving round the
county and we want to caution those disposing untreated
contaminated wastewater into
rivers that we will catch up with them. We want the community to know that this
behavior is not acceptable and is harming our environment,” he said.
Karoki said waste water
discharge contain several harmful substances or chemicals, which may cause
adverse effect on people’s health, environmental impacts such as changes in
aquatic habitats, species composition, and decrease in biodiversity.
He said the rises
in diseases like cancer in the country could be attributed to increased pollution
of water bodies.
Karoki said the
county government with the help of the national government is setting up a
sewer system that is connecting Kerugoya, Kutus, Kagio and Sagana town so as to
provide a permanent solution to sewage management.
Chief Officer for Water and Irrigation Services Peter
Murimi said the department would be undertaking a major exercise to clean up
Thiba and Nyamindi rivers.
Speaking during the start of the crackdown along river
Thiba at Kutus town, Murimi asked residents to take care of the rivers so as to
protect their lives as they depend on the water for use and irrigation.
“What we are asking the people is that they be cautious
and take care of our rivers. Build sewers tanks and stop channeling your
drainage the waste into the rivers,” said Murimi.
The County Director of NEMA, Ezra Ng’ang’a said that the
crackdown will continue and those found on the wrong side will face the long
arm of the law.
He asked those who are still draining their sewer into
the river to be considerate to other people who use the water for domestic use
especially downstream.
“It is very unfortunate that we still have people who
drain the untreated effluent into rivers contrary to environmental regulations.
We cannot afford to misuse the little resources we have and especially during
this time of drought,” he said.
