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Hotels that make the sea their sewage disposal pit

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By Patrick Beja

The sparkling white sand beaches along Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline is a stretch of endless beauty and unique marine features that make it an attractive destination for tourists.

But, on close scrutiny, spots that have become an environmental eyesore pop out of some beach hotels that continue to pollute the very sea from which they derive their tourist attraction.

Despite a two-year-old ultimatum by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), asking all beach hotels and other establishments to stop emitting effluent into the ocean, some are yet to comply.

Nema’s requirement for the hotels was to have soak pits that can be emptied regularly by exhauster trucks, pending a long-term construction of a modern sewerage system.

Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers Coast branch chairman, Titus Kangangi explains how hotel sewerage systems work. [PHOTO: OMONDI ONYANGO/STANDARD]

While putting on a front to deceive environmental officers that they have complied with the requirement to contain sewage within their compounds, some hotels connect long hosepipes and night, stretch them out to sea and pump out raw effluent.

Nema ultimatum

The culprits are not as many as when Nema issued the ultimatum, but the few who do it, soil the glittering beaches that form recreation grounds for thousands of tourists.

A spot by The Standard came across hosepipes that are laid out at night when the beaches are deserted to pump out waste into the ocean.

Most of the hotels use similar pipes to draw water from the ocean for various uses in the facilities. When those that use the pipes for emitting waste are confronted, they often claim that are for drawing water.

Apart from Mombasa, other hotels suspected to abuse the ocean environment are in south and north coasts.

Another glaring culprit, also warned by Nema to comply, are the Mombasa Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) and the Mombasa Municipal Council.

The MWSC is guilty of leaving its sewerage system flowing into the ocean in some of the populated areas of the town.

At the Old Town and Changamwe, dilapidated sewerage pipes empty raw waste into the ocean, leaving wide patches of sludge floating on scenic sea fronts like the English Channel. The scene is a favourite for competitive swimming.

The council has been warned repeatedly for leaving mounds of garbage uncollected in the slums, most of which end up in the sea.

Shimo La Tewa Prison, identified earlier as they facility that emptied most effluent into the sea, is nearing completion of a modern sewerage treatment plant following a hue and cry by users of the Mtwapa Creek that used to be soiled.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast branch chairman Mr Titus Kangangi confirmed that Nema lead agencies have been on constant lookout to ensure there is no pollution of the sea.

"Every hotel now has to show a clear drawing of how its sewerage system runs from the septic tanks to the soak pits," Kangangi said.

Under the new rules, hotels have to pay Sh5,000 application fee for an effluent disposal licence to Nema and another Sh100,000 for the long-term licence.

Actively enforced

He said, since 2008, the Nema regulations are being actively enforced and its agencies check to ensure compliance.

He, however, said the licence fee is prohibitive for small hotels, which could be why some have not complied.

The modern sewerage plants are also expensive investments. According to Kangangi, a sewerage treatment plant for a hotel can cost between Sh2.5 and Sh100 million. The Coast has 30 beach hotels in the north and 20 in the south as wells 15 others elsewhere in the region, all tourist-rated.

Kangangi said only two beach hotels have so have constructed sewerage treatment plants as the rest are struggling to comply with the Nema regulations.

He, however, said majority of the hotel to not soil the ocean with waster.

We thrive on nature and sound environment and we have to protect this," Kangangi said.

Nema Director general Dr Muusya Mwinzi confirmed there has been a rush by several firms to comply with the anti-pollution regulations to avoid prosecution.

Dr Mwinzi said Nema has teamed up with the Water Management Authority whose laboratories test water to ensure compliance.

Coast Nema director Mr Isaiah Kyengo said the compliance by hotels with the water quality regulation is now above 80 per cent.

"No hotel is allowed to discharge sewerage into the sea," Kyengo said.

He said Nema has given MWSC three months to repair its existing sewerage system or be prosecuted.

MWSC Managing Direct Moses Kinya confirmed they were under pressure from Nema to repair its sewerage system.

"We have already identified a contractor to repair our Kizingo and Changamwe sewerage system. The project is being undertaken by the Coast Water Services Board," he said.

Kyengo said once the existing sewerage system is revived, discharge of untreated effluent into the sea in areas such like Old Town could be addressed.