County to impose Sh250,000 fines to deter polluters

From left: Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir, Heritage Hotels CEO Mohamed Hersi and Mombasa County Executive for Environment Tendai Lewa participate in beach clean-up exercise at Voyager Beach Resort on January 30, 2016. The county will fine environment polluters. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • In the proposed Finance Bill for 2016/2017, for vehicle owners found dumping litter in the streets, the County has imposed a Sh250,000 fine.
  • The County will force a fine of Sh100,000 on people found dumping hazardous waste in the town.

Mombasa County Government is set to introduce fines of up to Sh250,000 to deter people from polluting the environment in the tourist-beloved town.

Environment executive Tendai Lewa said the County would never review the heavy fines downwards as they were aimed at discouraging residents and visitors from littering.

Mr Lewa wants residents to throw garbage in designated areas.

In the proposed Finance Bill for 2016/2017, for vehicle owners found dumping litter in the streets, the County has imposed a Sh250,000 fine.

Motorists or matatu owners whose vehicles emit smoke will be fined Sh200,000 while drivers who play loud music will part with a similar amount.

The County will force a fine of Sh100,000 on people found dumping hazardous waste in the town, while those who illegally empty raw sewage into drainage system will be fined Sh100, 000.

Mr Lewa, speaking in Mombasa on Sunday, said: “The County Assembly has already passed a law on heavy fines to be meted on polluters of the environment in the town.”

“If you want to escape the fines, then you must adhere to the new county environmental rules. We are determined to address the garbage and sewage crisis to create a better environment.”

But Matatu Welfare Secretary Secretary-General Sammy Gitau urged the county's administration to lower the fines because they will have a hazardous effect on the industry.

Mr Gitau said most of the matatus emit smoke due to using diesel adding that investors might end up losing their vehicles as they will not afford paying the high fines.

Additionally, Matatu Owners Association national vice-chairman Ali Bates asked the administration to re-evaluate the fine, saying it is unfair since it is passengers who litter.

Mr Tendai said that a recent study done by the county observed that smoke emitted by vehicles was harmful to the health of residents.

“A research has established that the carbon monoxide emitted by vehicles on the roads cause health problems especially to children,” he said.

On the other hand, he said matatu owners should sensitise passengers on the importance of protecting the environment.

“When passengers get into the matatus, tell them that it is illegal to throw plastic bags or empty bottles in the streets.”

The County government has come under sharp criticism from tourism players over uncollected garbage on road reserves.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said counties have a duty of maintaining a clean environment.

Edited by Philip Momanyi