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Fears over Medical Waste Incinerator in Residential Area
A hospital waste incinerator is the centre of a scandal with far-reaching environmental and public health consequences facing some 4, 000 residents of Dundani Village in Mkuranga District, Coast Region, Tanzania.
According to The Citizen, the incinerator was installed before an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted and has exposed the residents to extreme health and environmental hazards caused by heavy smoke and a chocking smell produced by the plant.
The facility - known as 'Safe Waste Incinerator' - has been used in burning hundreds of tonnes of medical waste. This state of affairs is enough to instill fear in the wellbeing of the local community.
Earlier on, not many locals sensed the possible danger of toxic emissions being spewed out of the incinerator. But that sense of safety vanished when the facility - which is located in a relatively densely-populated residential area, public places and natural environs - started incinerating massive medical waste.
Apparently, the place on which the incinerator was built between 2013 and 2014 was unpopulated when its owner acquired the land for the project. However the situation changed over time and the facility is today in the midst of residential houses whose residents are now up in arms in protest against the adverse effects of the incinerator's operations.
The current situation has put political leaders and public health officials in Mkuranga District under pressure to act in efforts to minimize possible damage to the environment, and harm to the health of the surrounding communities.
"The heavy, smelly smoke produced by the burning of hospital waste in this area is putting us all in a very difficult situation. It is very irritating; it smells like burning (human) bodies, or noxious toxins... It is really difficult to exactly describe thetype of smell which we inhale," complained a Dundani villager, Mbarka Salumu.
Mr Salumu claimed his family almost incessantly suffers from bouts of flu, coughs and severe fever, strongly believing that the contagions are the effects of the smoke billowing out of the incinerator's chimney.
The National Environment Management Council (NEMC) says it has not received official or formal complaints about the alleged toxic emissions.
"We received the information only a few days ago - and we are now preparing to visit and inspect the facility. We can only draw conclusions after visiting the site and inspecting the facility," said senior NEMC official Alfred Msokwa.
Hinting that the Mkuranga District authorities had actually cleared construction of the incinerator at its current location, Mr Msoka said that they did this without first conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project.
"District councils permit such sensitive facilities to be installed and operated in their efforts to boost revenues - but they sometimes overlook safety and other issues concerning the environment and public health. They approve environmentally-sensitive projects at the local level - and, thereafter, fail to effectively monitor them," Mr Msokwa explains.
A top official of the company operating the incinerator, who asked not to be named for not being the official spokesperson, said the concerns raised by Dundani residents and local leaders were 'normal challenges facing businesses.'
"We have received calls from several people in Mkuranga who want us to surrender our documents. We have written to them to seek an appropriate time to sit with all responsible authorities to respond to their concerns," said the official.
The Mkuranga incinerator does not operate daily, but when it does, the huge choking smoke produced by its operation does indeed spread far and wide into houses and open spaces.
Another resident of Dundani Village, Saidi Mnage, a petty trader has also complained that the choking smoke from the incinerator cannot be a good thing for humans and the environment.
"The emission is chocking and smells like toxic chemicals. When we ask them about it, they tell us that they are burning expired medicines! However, we don't really know what exactly is being burnt," Mr Mnage laments. He claims to have seen lorries coming to the incinerator under the escort of uniformed police officers to offload what could very well be expired medicines which are then burnt at night.
Dundani residents want the facility to be relocated soonest - or the chimney be elongated well into the sky. "We are still in the dark about when this misery will end as the pollution continues relentlessly to adversely affect us as days go by," says Mr Mnage.
Worries of health complications
The nuisance and possible health effects that could be caused by the Mkuranga incinerator were also raised by women living close to the incinerator.
"Our frustration is that the facility emits highly irritating smell. It affects pregnant women badly. Sometimes my husband buys fresh fish that we prepare for consumption. But, when it comes to eating the meal, we sometimes are unable to do so because of loss of appetite as a result of the smoke," says one pregnant woman whose identity is withheld.
Her view was echoed by another woman, Najma Saidi. "The irritation caused by this installation is unbearable. You may prepare your food but fail to eat it because the smell that comes from that incinerator is too irritating. Now that you have come here, please go back and report about the misery we are subjected to - that the situation here is not good; it is intolerable," Ms Saidi stated.
Students of Dundani Secondary School routinely complain of breathing difficulties and other irritating inconveniences caused by fumes from the incinerator. "This situation causes us difficulties in breathing. Sometimes we fail to study in class. Once the smoke comes our way, the classrooms become inhabitable because of the swirling smoke," says Form IV student Saidi Sadi.
Another Sudent Zuwena Salim adds: "When the smoke comes in all of us, teachers and students, are forced to exit our classrooms. It is like they are burning rotten stuff out there... "
The Assistant Health Officer for Mkuranga Ward, MrJuma Shari, said the residents became aware of the situation after a Dundani Secondary School teacher, Mr Saidi Hemedi, called to notify the ward authorities of the choking smoke from the incinerator that was adversely affecting teachers and students.
"In light of that information, we visited the area and personally witnessed how the ugly smoke was affecting the school community and residents in the area," Mr Shari said.
The Citizen also witnessed a huge quantity of burnt hospital waste being taken from the incinerator and dumped at unauthorized sites in Mkuranga.
Lack of an ash pit for the burned waste has also been cited as a serious shortcoming at the plant.
The councilor for Mkuranga Ward, Mr Hamisi Abdallah, admitted that Dundani residents had complained to him about the irritation they were subjected to when the incinerator was operating. "Initially, I sent my officers there to assess the situation - and the feedback was that the situation was indeed adversely affecting people in the area. My fear is that these people are dumping remains of burnt hospital waste in unauthorized areas within Mkuranga," the councilor stated.
Why the proper authorities have not acted on the issue despite the endless complaints remains a difficult question whose answer Dundani residents are begging for.
The acting Mkuranga Ward Executive Officer, Mr Juma Difa, said they have requested the environment department of the Mkuranga District Council to inspect the facility and establish if it indeed meets the statutorily laid-down standards. "It is a serious problem. The incineration area is in the lowlands while the school and residential houses are on higher ground. So, when the incinerator is switched on, plumes of smoke easily spread around," says the local leader.
He accuses the owner of the facility and his supervisor of not cooperating with the authorities. The Headteacher of Dundani Secondary School, Mr Saidi Hemed, says the school is one of the areas that are adversely affected by the choking, smelly fumes caused by the incinerator.
"It is true that this factory is causing us all problems. Students are not comfortable in class when the incinerator is in operation - and they try to cover their noses with pieces of cloth; but it doesn't help," he says. He revealed that his school was already in the area and was operating long before the incineration facility was constructed.
Source: The Citizen
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"pageTitle": "Environmental Protection in the Workplace: Why Small Actions Matter",
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"pageCont": " Environmental Protection in the Workplace: Why Small Actions Matter
\r\n\r\n \r\n Environmental protection is often discussed in broad terms, but real impact starts at the workplace.\r\n Everyday activities such as waste disposal, chemical handling, and energy use directly affect the environment.\r\n This article explains how environmental management fits within HSE and why consistent action matters more than good intentions.\r\n
\r\n\r\n What Environment Means in HSE
\r\n \r\n In the context of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE), the environment is more than forests and oceans.\r\n It refers to the surroundings in which an organization operates and the impact its activities have on them.\r\n
\r\n \r\n This includes air quality, water usage and discharge, waste generation, noise levels, vibration, and energy consumption.\r\n Every workplace functions like a small ecosystem, and whatever is released into it eventually accumulates.\r\n
\r\n\r\n Common Environmental Risks in the Workplace
\r\n \r\n Many environmental incidents begin as minor issues that are ignored or postponed.\r\n Over time, these small problems grow into serious environmental hazards.\r\n
\r\n \r\n Common risks include chemical spills and leaks, poor waste segregation, excessive dust and emissions,\r\n oil contamination of soil or drainage systems, and uncontrolled noise from machinery.\r\n
\r\n\r\n Why Environmental Protection Is an HSE Priority
\r\n \r\n Environmental damage has direct financial and operational consequences for organizations.\r\n Cleanup costs, regulatory fines, production shutdowns, and loss of operating licenses can severely impact business continuity.\r\n
\r\n \r\n In addition, environmental incidents damage public trust and corporate reputation.\r\n A single spill or pollution event can undo years of positive brand image.\r\n
\r\n\r\n Environmental Controls That Work
\r\n \r\n Effective environmental management does not rely on complex systems.\r\n It depends on consistency and accountability.\r\n
\r\n \r\n Key controls include proper waste management plans, spill prevention and response procedures,\r\n regular environmental inspections, employee environmental awareness training,\r\n and the use of safer and environmentally friendly materials.\r\n
\r\n\r\n Role of Employees in Environmental Safety
\r\n \r\n Environmental protection is a shared responsibility.\r\n While management sets policies, employees play a critical role in day to day implementation.\r\n
\r\n \r\n Employees should report leaks immediately, follow waste disposal procedures,\r\n minimize unnecessary energy use, handle chemicals correctly,\r\n and actively participate in environmental training programs.\r\n
\r\n\r\n Benefits of a Strong Environmental HSE System
\r\n \r\n Organizations that prioritize environmental management experience measurable benefits.\r\n These include reduced operating costs, improved regulatory compliance,\r\n safer and healthier work environments, and enhanced corporate reputation.\r\n
\r\n \r\n Environmental protection is not an optional responsibility.\r\n It is a strategic investment in long term sustainability.\r\n
\r\n\r\n Conclusion
\r\n \r\n Protecting the environment is not about perfection.\r\n It is about making responsible choices consistently.\r\n
\r\n \r\n A strong HSE environmental management system focuses on practical actions,\r\n accountability, and continuous improvement.\r\n When environmental protection becomes part of everyday work culture,\r\n both organizations and communities benefit.\r\n
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"pageTitle": "Shoe Factory closed over pollution and unsafe working conditions",
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"pageCont": "Six top managers of a shoe-making factory based in Machakos, Eastern Kenya were Tuesday arrested for ignoring an order requiring them to appear in court on accusations of polluting the environment.
\r\nAt the same, the Machakos County government closed down the factory, Walker Industries, located in Mavoko, and hundreds of workers ordered to go home until further notice.
\r\nAn arrest warrant was issued by a Mavoko court in March after the managers failed to appear in court to answer to charges of environmental pollution and failing to improve the working conditions of their workers. The managers were at pains explaining why they had not complied with the law, five years after the Chinese owned company was constructed.
\r\nMachakos Governor Alfred Mutua accused the company of being among factories in the area that are polluting River Athi. He accused officials of national and county governments of failing to enforce a warrant of arrest issued against the management of the company.
\r\n\"It has also been disturbing to find that workers do not have protective gear and operate dangerous machines exposing them to harm,\" said Dr Mutua during a press briefing after an impromptu visit of the company.
\r\nA recent report by Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Natural Resources highlighted massive pollution of River Athi which is the source of water for millions of people downstream. The committee established that the water was causing health and economic challenges to people living along the river.
\r\n\"I give the companies that are breaking the law 30 days from today to comply with directives given to them by my government and also by Nema (National Environment Management Authority) and other agencies.
\r\n\"It does not matter how big your investment is; if you are not adhering to the set laws and regulations, we are going to shut you down and lock you up,\" said the governor, adding that no one is above the law.
\r\nSome high-end estates in the area were also put on notice for dumping raw sewage into the river. The estates include 360 Apartments, Kings Gate, River Park estate, Grace Park estate and Lifestyle Gardens among others.
\r\n\"These estates do not have sewer systems. All the raw sewage is poured into the river and it has caused ill-health to people downstream. We will arrest the adult residents of those estates for criminal activities if they do not comply,\" said Dr Mutua.
\r\nThe owners were directed to conform to the law within 45 days or their houses will be demolished.
\r\nSource: Daily Nation
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"pageID": null,
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"pageCont": "The National Environmental Management Authority has shut five factories in Nairobi's Industrial Area for discharging dangerous effluent to the environment.
\r\nDuring the crack down, five people whose premises were discharging raw sewage to the environment were arrested. Among those arrested are Siraj Sharrif (Supervisor of Mas Tanners Ltd), Benard Nyamae (Supervisor of Nairobi Tanners Ltd) and James Kamorho (Supervisor of Far Horizon Hides and Skins).
\r\nThe three were detained at the Lang’ata Police Station and are expected to be arraigned in Kibera Law Courts on Friday.
\r\nCompanies served with notices for closure include: Africa Apparel Ltd, Mas Tannery, Far Horizon Hides and Skins, Amin Tanners and Nairobi Tanners Ltd.
\r\nA source at Nema told the Star the firms affected were polluting the environment with toxic waste. The authority has been undertaking inspections on illegal discharge of raw sewage into the environment.
\r\n\"The exercise is meant to weed out companies discharging untreated waste water into sewer lines or the environment that mainly ends in rivers,\" the source said.
\r\nThe source said Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company was given restoration orders to repair manholes. \"Several manholes in the area belonging to the firm are not in good shape.\"
\r\nOn April 16, Nema closed three companies Nairobi's south over emission of toxic gases. The authority took the action after investigations following complaints from residents of South B and C. Residents had been complained of a pungent smell since March 5. They blamed the smell for hospitalization of at least four children. Companies closed were Powerex, Edible Oil and Usafiplus.
\r\nSource: The Star",
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"pageDesc": "The exercise is meant to weed out companies discharging untreated waste water into sewer lines or the environment that mainly ends in rivers",
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"pageID": null,
"pageTitle": "Three Companies in Nairobi shut down for Toxic Emissions",
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"pageCont": "The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has closed three companies indefinitely following claims that they have been emitting toxic gases in Nairobi South area.
\r\nThe move comes after Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko last week Monday ordered for the immediate investigation into persistent emission of toxic gases at night by some industries in the area.
\r\nThe three companies Powerex Company, Edible Oils Company and Usafiplus Company located along Mombasa Road were closed to allow Nema and City Hall conduct further investigations into the issue.
\r\n\"Yes, three companies have been closed down indefinitely to allow for further investigations into the matter. We want to keep investigating and tracking the process to make sure no company resumes operations without being given a clean bill of health,\" said Tobiko on Wednesday.
\r\nThe Environment CS had directed both NEMA and the National Environmental Complaints Committee led by Dr. John Chumo to send a team to the ground and prepare a preliminary report to be presented back to him. This followed complaints by the residents living along Mombasa Road of the lethal emissions that had led to the hospitalization of four children as well as leaving others suffering from nose bleeding, persistent coughing, vomiting and sore eyes, among other complications.
\r\nMr. Tobiko said he had received the report from the investigations which were led by Dr. Chumo leading to the decision to close the companies indefinitely to allow for more investigations.
\r\n\"We are committed in the fight against pollution of any form and stern action will be taken against those found culpable of polluting the environment and putting lives of residents in danger,\" he said.
\r\nTwo weeks ago, City Hall had also warned the more than 20 factories operating in the area that they will be closed and owners prosecuted if they continue emitting the toxic gases into the environment.
\r\nNairobi County Environment chief officer David Makori said that some two companies have been adversely mentioned by residents as suspected to have been releasing the deadly emissions.
\r\nNairobi county Assembly majority whip and South B MCA Waithera Chege said that a report on the closure of the companies will be tabled before the House next week Tuesday after MCAs come back from their short recess.
\r\n\"Following the closure of the companies, normalcy had resumed and I have not received any complaints from residents of more emissions. However, this is not the end of the investigations because closing them is one step towards finding a closure into this matter. We want those responsible to held accountable,\" said Ms Chege.
\r\nAlthough reasons for the indefinite closure of Powerex and Edible Oils have not been given, Usafiplus, a waste management company, was shut for operating without a license following a site inspection by NEMA.
\r\nA report by NEMA indicated that the company in Industrial Area was incinerating medical and industrial waste albeit without a licence and had not conducted any environmental audit since 2016.
\r\nThe other reasons put forward were that workers at the facility were working without any protective gear, lacked records of stock emissions or air quality assessment as well as records of incoming and incinerated waste.
\r\n\"Based upon the findings, your facility should stop further operation of the facility until it meets the required standards and is licensed by NEMA. The management should also report to the NEMA offices at Nyayo House with all the relevant documents,\" read in part the report signed by Veronica Maina, a NEMA inspector.
\r\n\r\nSource: Nairobi News
\r\n",
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"pageID": null,
"pageTitle": "Factories on notice over Water Pollution",
"pageSlug": "factories-on-notice-over-water-pollution",
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"pageCont": "The Environment ministry yesterday warned factories and individuals against discharging effluent into water bodies.
\r\nAccording to the Environment Cabinet Secretary, Keriako Tobiko, the ministry has instructed the National Environment Management Authority to punish those culpable including prosecution of culprits and closure of industries.
\r\n\"We'll shut down the industries discharging effluent into the rivers and destroying people's lives. This must stop,\" he said.
\r\nTobiko said there should be no excuse for individuals or entities to discharge waste or effluent into Lake Victoria.The law will be applied without fear or favour. \"Nema should map out all these polluting sources, serve those not served with notices and then undertake aggressive arrest, prosecution and legal action.\"
\r\nThe CS urged the Judiciary to support the war on pollution and ensure no company is granted orders to continue operations. \"We have a case where one factory actually got a court order to continue operations after the ministry undertook corrective actions against them,\" he said.
\r\nKisumu residents have protested against discharge of effluent into Lake Victoria. They accused Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries of endangering their lives and those of their animals.
\r\nLate last year, Environment Court Judge Stephen Kibunja ordered the closure of the mill over massive pollution of River Kibos and its surroundings. Benson Adega, Eric Ochieng and Bether Opiyo sought the orders. They said the company was emptying effluent into the river - the main source of water for Kisumu East residents. The firm was ordered to stop milling, producing power and distilling alcohol, pending conclusion of the case.
\r\nThrough lawyer Frank Olel, however, it sought orders allowing its operations. It said the closure would put more than 2,000 employees out of work. Olel said the firm pays more than Sh1 billion to the county in taxes every year.
\r\nTobiko planned to visit the company. \"I'm a lawyer myself. I don't want to encroach on the territory of the judicial system. I want to look at the order and proceedings.\"
\r\nMAGNAM Environmental Network had also appealed to the county and Nema to stop the release of raw sewage into River Saka. They blamed Kodiaga Prison for the problem.
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"pageCont": "Nanyuki Boys High School in Laikipia County has started removing cancer-causing asbestos from the roofs of classrooms. This is according to the school's Board of Management chairman Robert Mungai.
\r\nThe chairman also said that the school had engaged the national Environmental Management Authority (Nema) to provide guidelines on the safe removal of the asbestos roofing.
\r\nThis action follows Nema's order to replace the roof due to the serious risks of cancer posed by asbestos. \"The sheets wear off naturally and since they date back so many years to the colonial period, they now pose health risks to the school,\" Laikipia county Nema director Fanuel Mosago said. He further warned that water collected from the roof can cause cancer. The asbestos fibres accumulate in the body and inhalation of fibres can cause lung cancer.
\r\n\"We are advising anyone else with asbestos roofing to remove it and seek guidance so that they don't cause harm to other people when disposing them of,\" he said.
\r\nAlthough there is no law explicitly banning the use of asbestos in Kenya, Legal Notice No. 121 of the Environmental Management and Coordination (Waste Management) Regulations, 2006 classified asbestos as a hazardous substance specifically focusing on the handling and disposal of asbestos waste. The Legal Notice which came into effect in 2006 together with the existing environmental and public health laws effectively limit the use of asbestos in construction but many houses and public facilities still have asbestos roofs and drainage systems installed earlier. Property owners have been advised to remove the asbestos although this has been delayed primarily due to lack of funds with the replacement expected to cost around Ksh. 500 million.
\r\nWhen left intact, and undisturbed, asbestos materials do not pose a health risk. It becomes a problem when, due to damage, disturbance, or deterioration over time, the material releases fibres into the air. Exposure to air containing the fibres increases the risk of inhaling the fibres and developing serious chronic health problems such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
\r\nThe removal of asbestos therefore needs to be done cautiously and in accordance with the guidelines provided by Nema to reduce the risk of exposure to the fibres. Any person who has any intentions of removing or decommissioning and disposal of any asbestos material is required to consult the guidelines on procedures including undertaking Environmental Impact Assessment, a risk assessment and obtaining necessary approval and advice.
\r\nAccording to the guidelines, asbestos waste must be disposed of at Nema approved disposal sites only and should be buried as deep as practically possible to accommodate more asbestos waste but at least one (1) metre above water table. A disposal sites should also be completely fenced off with a lockable gate which shall be locked at all times and a clear warning notices stating \"Asbestos hazard area, keep out\" placed at the disposal site.
\r\nMore details are available in the Nema Asbestos Disposal Guidelines are available Here
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