The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) on Monday shut down 2 plants at Kibos Sugar Company in Kisumu.
The private sugar miller has allegedly been disposing toxic chemicals into River Kibos which drains into Lake Victoria.
On Sunday, Muhoroni MP Onyango K’Oyoo threatened to mobilize his constituents to take action against the miller should NEMA and Environment CS Keriako Tobiko fail to take control of the issue.
“If Kibos Sugar wants to continue with its operations in the area it must adhere to the environmental requirements because if it cannot, then they will have to leave the area,” he said.
“You either shape up or ship out. It is the company to move out if they cannot work within the laws to protect the well-being of locals,” he continued, adding that the company has three months to put in place pollution mitigation measures.
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Kisumu County Environment executive Salmon Orimba noted that the miller has definitely been releasing effluent into the river, creating a fertile ground for water hyacinth in Lake Victoria.
“We have gone to their premises on a number of occasions and have found out that inadequately treated effluent is finding its way into River Kibos, which is causing devastating effects down stream,” Mr Orimba is quoted by the Nation.
The daily further reports that the sugar miller has laid pipes under the water surface to conceal its activities.
In November last year, the Environment and Land Court judge Stephen Kibunja ordered the temporary shutdown of the factory.
Kibos Sugar chairman Raju Chanan would later acknowledge the “accidental” spillage of raw effluent into the water source and the matter later settled out of court.
“The release of toxic chemicals has affected institutions like Kibos Primary School, Kibos Prison and Kibos School for the Blind which rely on the water for different uses,” said George Otieno who neighbours the miller.
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