Senators approve motion to fight water pollution

Senators want everyone who is exposed to polluted water to be compensated.

They have approved a resolution to have all those who discharge waste into rivers to be forced to pay all the people who are affected by the effluent downstream.

Minority Chief Whip Johnstone Muthama (Machakos) moved the motion that will also require the national government to update the country on the payments made and measures taken to keep polluters at bay.

Mr Muthama said the government’s response to pollution was “grossly inadequate”.

Under the Constitution, he said, it was the duty of the State to “eliminate processes and activities likely to endanger the environment”.

“If airlines all over the world are paying for polluting the air, there’s no excuse why those who are making money and polluting our rivers should be let off the hook,” he said.

Prof John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot) said all rivers in the country were in some way affected by pollution, adding that every factory that pollutes rivers will have to pay the people downstream.

“If there’s a matter anywhere that needs to be declared as a national disaster, then it is pollution,” he said.

The senators also hit out at the National Environment Management Authority, saying it was only interested in collecting fees and fines from polluters.

“Nema is a toothless bulldog. It does nothing” said Mr David Musila (Kitui). He said the penalties prescribed in law for polluters should be implemented to discourage the pollution of water bodies.