Distiller firm’s sewer line disconnected for polluting Athi River

A sewer line belonging to London Distillers (Kenya) Limited (LDK) has been disconnected by Mavoko Water and Sewerage Company(MAVWASCO) and Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA).

The water company has said it has analysed samples of the effluent from LDK’s distillery and has established that they are above the limit set by EMCA and water regulations 2016.

“This is really affecting the performance of the treatment plan at Kinanie and of late we have been accused by National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) of polluting Athi river,” said Michael Mang’eli, Managing Director MAVWASCO.

Mang’eli in a letter dated September 18, 2019, and directed to LDK said they have been concerned because NEMA has accused them and EPZ company of polluting Athi River.

MAVWASCO has granted LDK Company two weeks to comply by improving on their waste water treatment plant in their factory.

Mange’li has warned LDK that if it does not comply, it will be permanently barred from discharging to public sewer.

The director advised LDK that if it chooses to discharge its effluent to the environment, it must adhere to regulations set by various Government institutions.

“Kindly be informed that we have disconnected your effluent discharge to the public sewer line, “added Mang’eli.

EPZA which has since suspended LDK’s permit to discharge its effluent into the public sewer said that test results from various reputable laboratories indicate that LDK is discharging hazardous effluents to human beings, environment, and organisms.

The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) EPZA, George Makateto added said that they have enough evidence indicating that the effluent being discharged from LDK’s distillery to the public sewer line owned by the Authority is hazardous.

“We as an organization do not support any act that will result in pollution and endangering the lives of both human beings, environment and organisms by allowing you to continue discharging such waste into the EZPA sewer line,” added Makateto.

Makateto added that they have suspended LDK’s permit to continue discharging their effluent at their sewer line to protect the lives of human beings and organisms.

“Please be informed that it is your duty as a non EPZA industry to treat your effluent before discharging it into our facility,” added Makateto.

He added that any new application LDK makes for reconnection will only be considered after it fully complies with the acceptable industrial international standards for effluent treatment and the application shall be placed before EPZA board of directors for approval.

EPZA wrote a letter dated September 20, 2019, directed to LDK company.

London Distillers Kenya Limited; the alcoholic beverage factory, based in Mavoko, Machakos County was last year according to a Parliamentary Committee report, given six months by the National Assembly Environment Committee to control toxic discharge from its facility after residents of Great Wall Gardens on Shanghai road, Athi River and adjacent areas filed a petition in March 2018, in which they accused the alcoholic drinks maker of subjecting them to health hazards.

The report had among other recommendations stated that LDK had only six months to invest in the state-of-the-art technology that contains air pollution, recycles solid waste, and escalates and/or institutes stringent internal self-regulation.

“It should implement the use of the best technology toward cleaning of all resultant industrial by-products from its premises before releasing to the environment. Failure to implement the recommendations the factory should be closed or be relocated to other suitable areas,” read the report.

On July 4, 2019, Real Estate Development Company Erdermann Property Limited accorded LDK more time to manage its toxic waste materials affecting people of River Road Machakos County.

It said that it puts in place state of the art technology in an environmental protection bid following a Parliamentary Committee on Environment directive issued in October 2018.

In the spirit of coexistence, Erdermann Property Limited also wanted all government agencies and regulatory institutions involved to allow construction works to go on; particularly the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), which has failed to fast track approval of licenses for the construction of Greatwall Gardens phases 3,4,5,6, and 7.

The real estate development company had accused (NEMA) of hindering the progress of their ongoing projects by not issuing Environmental Impact Assessment (EAI) approvals, which they had applied for.