Imara Daima residents take air pollution petition online
A resident of Nairobi's Imara Daima Estate with her son in their living room on April 28, 2015. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Under their association, Imara Daima Community representing five gated communities, the residents had also called for a meeting with the environmental body's management to air their concern over air pollution.
- Mr. Wahungu sought to cancel a meeting with the residents as he asked for more time to investigate the issue and for residents to detect improvements in air quality.
- However, residents in their WhatsApp group said that the emissions did not let up and were even worse than most days. They have now resorted to wearing gas masks in their houses.
Weeks after Imara Daima residents petitioned National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) without a reply, they have taken their protest online.
The residents who had written to Nema requesting for an investigation into what they termed as “a pungent smell similar to leaked cooking gas” that was causing a myriad of respiratory ailments.
In their petition dated April 1, the residents wanted Nema to “mobilise, investigate and stop” the source of the smell that was making the residents and their children ill. The residents exhibited a wide range of symptoms from blocked noses, irritated eyes, itchy ears and skin. Some residents complained of nausea.
Under their association, Imara Daima Community representing five gated communities, the residents had also called for a meeting with the environmental body's management to air their concern over air pollution.
When contacted on Monday evening, Nema said they had served a “closure notice” to a factory they suspected to be behind the smell.
CITIZEN SURVEILLANCE
Speaking to the Nation.co.keon phone, Nema’s Director General, Geoffrey Wahungu said , “We have taken the precautionary route to see if the emissions stop. We are asking the residents to be extra vigilant and report if any smell is detected during this time so that we can confirm if there could be more than one culprit engaging in bad environmental practices,” he said.
He explained that Nema’s inspectors had carried out a surveillance of the area in partnership with the residents drawn from Imara Daima, Muimara, Amara Park, Oak Park, Imara Gardens and Sunrise Park estates under the Imara Daima Estate Association (IDEA).
Their surveillance had zeroed in on a company that recycles used motor vehicle oil based off enterprise road of Nairobi’s Industrial Area.
Mr Wahungu sought to cancel a meeting with the residents as he asked for more time to investigate the issue and for residents to detect improvements in air quality.
However, residents in their WhatsApp group said that the emissions did not let up and were even worse than most days. They have now resorted to wearing gas masks in their houses.
“oh no, the gas again, put on your masks,” one resident posted on the messaging platform.
Another said she was on her way to hospital for a child who had developed breathing problems.
"Taking my baby to hospital tomorrow. ...We have been in and out of hospital for ENT and taken endless antibiotics. ..The cause of the recurrent sore throat remains "unknown". Anyone who can advise on blood tests to be done at hospital?," she asked.
Reached for comment, the company they could not respond as the person authorised to speak to the press was out the country. They also said they could not respond as Nema had not yet served them the alleged notice. The source confirmed for them it was business as usual and they remained open.
Nema’s Director General and communication manager did not answer their phones all of Tuesday neither did they reply to their emails or text.
Residents are now appealing to the public to sign the online petition to get Nema to act and save them from the unknown health hazard.
Click here to add your voice to the petition.
