Machakos County Government has decried the filth and pollutants emanating from Kiambu and Nairobi threatening to fight for the closure of firms that have destroyed the lifeline of Athi River.
In a statement sent out to newsrooms on Tuesday, Governor Alfred Mutua stated that the people in Machakos were being poisoned by the polluted waters.
Mutua noted with concern that Athi River had been turned a hazard with most of the mess in its waters originating from factories that dump chemicals in Nairobi and Kiambu.
The governor vowed to have action taken to intervene so as to fight cancers and other diseases that are already claiming lives among communities relying on the river.
"I give companies in Machakos County, especially in Mavoko area, up to end of this month to ensure they have complied fully with environmental regulations and are not dumping into the river. From next week, we will shut them down," Mutua's statement reads in part.
He revealed that there were company bosses who bribe inspection officials, environmental officers and the police "so that they can place profit over the lives of our children."
According to Governor Mutua, 90 per cent of the pollution of Athi River is from companies based in Nairobi and Kiambu Counties. He intends to engage Governors Mike Sonko and Ferdinand Waititu so as to stamp up authority against the effluents.
"As a Government, we will also move to court to obtain closure orders of polluters in Nairobi and Kiambu whose chemicals are killing my people of Machakos and impacting on Makueni, Kitui, Taita Taveta and Kilifi counties," stated Governor Mutua.
The development has come at a time Nairobi is hosting the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference at KICC with over 5,000 global delegates and Heads of State being in attendance.
