NEMA sends a shocker warning message to politicians

juma chrispinus

April 12, 2017 9:00 AM

There has been a recent mushrooming number of political aspirants.

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All politicians are set for a tough time with the National Environmental Authority of sticking of posters, before and after the general elections.

According to the new directive form the Mr. John Konchellah led NEMA, all political aspirants will pay a fee to the authority to facilitate the removal of their posters after the August 8 elections.

Nema said the deposit bond will be refundable if the aspirants clear their posters and the agency’s officials ascertain it.

“The bond will be deposited in the Nema Environment Restoration Fund account. The counties will also be included to make the exercise effective,” Nema compliance and enforcement officer Mr Zephaniah Ouma said.

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He said currently, the Environment Management Coordination Act 2013 does not stipulate how much should be paid as deposit bonds, hence Nema, the IEBC and the Council of Governors will meet and give direction.

“We will also deliberate on whether it will be the party or coalition to deposit the bond on behalf of aspirants or the individual aspirant. The recommendations of the meeting will be communicated in a week,” Mr Ouma said.

Meanwhile, IEBC communications and public affairs manager Andrew Limo welcomed the move, saying every Kenyan has a right to have a clean environment.

“It is a great initiative that should be supported but should be taken by Nema and the county government,” he said.

Ouma said the deposit bond is also applicable to industrial plants and undertakings which have or are likely to have adverse effects on the environment.

“The purpose of this environment deposit bond is to ensure good environmental practices,” he said.

It also ensures compliance with remediation obligations, availability of funds for remediation and sustainable development.

juma chrispinus