Eight People have been arrested in Malindi by the National Environmental Authority (NEMA) for faulting the water quality regulations.
The NEMA enforcement officers led by Bakari Mangale, a Senior Compliance and Enforcement officer raided several hotels and petrol stations in Malindi town and managed to arrest the culprits.
According to the officials the resorts had reportedly failed to comply with the law by not paying for the annual permit to the authorities five months since the year began.
The resorts raided in Malindi include Sea View Resort, Ocean Beach Resort and Spa, Diamond Dream of Africa and petrol stations such as Mass Petrol Station and Ola.
Mangale said NEMA was conducting a nationwide operation on the banned plastic bags and Water quality.
“We are in operation for a very old regulation which is the water quality regulation of 2006 and for this one, we are looking at all establishments which generate or discharge effluent to the environment,” he said.
As per the NEMA regulations establishments are required to pay for a discharge license.
Mangale said establishments that wish to apply and pay for the license were being assisted.
“For those having difficulties in applying he said officers were ready to assist so as to enable them to complete the process before landing on the wrong side of the law,” he said.
Mangale noted the operation on plastics will continue across the country saying those found manufacturing, selling or using the banned product shall meet the full force of the law.
Story by Dickson Wekesa
