Joho orders closure of cement firm's mining activities over pollution claims

Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho. [File, Standard] Residents of Kilifi have complained about dust pollution from a cement factory in Rabai sub-county and possible risks of plans to construct a nuclear plant in Kilifi North sub-county. This forced Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forest and Mining to camp in the area on fact finding mission. Joho ordered the immediate closure of Simba Cement factory's activities until all the issues raised by residents are addressed. "Because you have contravened the law and therefore, I direct my Principal Secretary to institute the process of issuing a notice of closure of this factory until they comply fully with the mining and operation regulations," he said. Residents of Kambe Ribe in Rabai sub-county have for a long time lamented about effects of stone blasting and dust from mining being undertaken by Simba Cement factory in the area. The factory located in Bondora has given residents sleepless nights with the most affected being families in down stream villages, eight kilometers from the firm where mining for raw materials is takes place. Neema Mwadena, a resident of Kambe village, said the mining activities had led to destruction of property and exposed families to respiratory diseases. "The worrying thing Simba cement does is to blast the sites very early in the morning when most people are still a sleep and this has resulted in tremors that have caused cracks on our houses. The dust is also so severe that animals die when they feed on vegetation in the area. We don't want Simba cement here," said Mwadena. Maurice Dzoro, claimed that the firm was forcefully displacing residents from two villages to expand their mining sites. He alleged that the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) is colluding with the investor to forcefully evict residents. "There is a lot of exploitation from the company in collaboration with the NGAO and the process they used to acquire land is vague but they are insisting of acquiring more land illegally," claimed. Kilifi Women Representative Getrude Mbeyu who is a member of the Environment, Forest and Mining Committee accompanied committee members Baringo South MP Charles Kamuren, Kibwezi East MP Jessicca Mbalu, and Kwale Women Representative Fatuma Masito to hear residents views. "This factory has caused a lot of problems to the people of Rabai and there are others such as Jumbo steel mills that are polluting the environment and causing a recipe for respiratory complication including cancer and another factory at Kwakadzengo area in Kilifi South Sub County that was built on riparian land," she said. Several kilometers way in Uyombo village, Matsangoni division, Kilifi North sub county, residents have opposed the proposed construction of a Sh500 billion nuclear plant in the area, a project that is to be implemented by the Nuclear Power Energy (NuPEA). During a session with the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining chaired by Kamuren, the residents expressed reservations about the project citing possible devastating negative effects on the ecosystem and residents. "We don't need this nuclear project and this is because we are enlightened and we have researched more about nuclear plants in the world and what we have found out we can't it to happen in Uyombo," said Hamisi Ngumbao. Mbeyu, who has been in the frontline to oppose the project urged the government to come up with an alternative economic project for residents. Kilifi North MP Owen Baya who previously supported the project made an about turn after facing hostility from residents and has vowed to use his powers at the national level to ensure that the nuclear plant is not constructed in the area. "If a nuclear plant is put up here then we shall lose our economic activities and we have seen the devastating effects of nuclear plants from across the world," he said. NuPEA said the nuclear the plant is expected to generate 1,000 megawatts by 2034 to cater for Kenya's soaring energy needs and spur industrial development. Environmentalists led by the Executive Director of Center for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action Phyllis Omido and other stakeholders from Kenya, Russia, Switzerland, Sweden and South Africa have opposed the project that they claim has devastating environmental effects.

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