Kirinyaga locals' sigh of relief as beer plant destroyed

KIRINYAGA: Early this week, irate residents of Kagumo and Ndimi raided Munyiri Special Honey Limited with the sole intention of destroying their Munyiri and Njuki brands of beer.

The residents heaved a sigh of relief on seeing torn, empty gunny bags, broken beer crates, bottles and poured liquor. The storm had passed, ushering in the promise of better days and quiet nights.

As early as last year, 54 people neighbouring the plant had complained to the authorities over pollution that they attributed to the company.

“We were forced to seal our wells since they were no longer hygienic. They had started producing dirty, stinking water which we felt was caused by the company,” one of the residents told The Standard.

In 2007, some 2,200 residents also complained that the plant was producing fumes which polluted the air and had caused most of them breathing problems.

However, instead of having these complaints addressed, the company instructed its legal representatives to write to the complainants threatening to sue them for alleged defamation and harassment.

Correspondences between the community, National Environment Management Authority (Nema) and the County Licensing Committee indicates that residents have been complaining over the factory’s location and negative environmental effects it has caused.

Although none of the community members was willing to be named, they said the factory has discoloured their roofs and house walls, giving them a black pigmentation which is caused by chemicals.

COMPLIANCE REPORT

They also fear the period which the factory has been in operation could have caused them adverse health effects as well as exposing them to cancerous diseases.

An inspection report prepared by a Moses Mburu from Nema, dated July 29, 2014 indicates that Nema received complaints relating to air and water pollution by the factory.

An inspectorate team from Nema headquarters, led by Ali Mwanzei had visited the plant on June 18 last year and their investigations established that the plant’s effluent treatment plant (ETP) was not functional and had some cracks, leading to seepage of raw effluent into the environment.

“There was also a fermenting smell from the processing unit and the ETP within and around the facility. The facility structures and neighbouring homes had black colouration which was associated with growth of green algae as a result of the carbon dioxide gas produced during the fermentation process,” read the report in part.

An improvement order was then issued, with the facility ordered to immediately stop discharging effluent into the environment, make an overhaul of their ETP to meet discharge standards and also submit a commitment letter to the authority detailing compliance timelines.

A follow up inspection conducted on July 28 last year by Mr Mburu of Kerugoya office revealed that the facility had exhausted the effluent ponds, the generator and oil spillages cleaned and there was reduction of the fermentation smell.

“The roof of the facility had also been cleaned off the algae growth,” read the report.

Mburu recommended the facility be submitting monthly records with clear tracking documents, and that the Kirinyaga Nema office keep making impromptu and un-scheduled inspections to assess compliance.

“The affected community members with evidence of property damage as a result of the facility can initiate civil suit against the company to seek compensation,” read the report.

He said due to the plant’s location, its non-conformity with the residential and agricultural set-up, a permanent solution to the complaints made would be relocation.