Angry Residents Disrupt NEMA Meeting Over Delayed Compensation
Chaos broke out during a National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) meeting on Wednesday, April 2, when a furious middle-aged woman stormed in and confronted officials for allegedly failing to follow a Supreme Court order regarding the Ksh2 billion compensation for residents of the Owino-Uhuru settlement in Mombasa.
The compensation was awarded due to lead poisoning that had severely affected the community.
According to videos obtained by Newshub.co.ke, the woman accused NEMA staff of spreading false claims that she was inciting residents against the authority.
She passionately demanded that the individual responsible for those allegations identify themselves, stating that NEMA had failed in its duty to implement the court’s directive.
The meeting had been organized to discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling, issued on December 6, 2024, which ordered NEMA to oversee the compensation process.
However, tensions flared as the woman reminded the officials that the court had given them a three-month deadline to act, which had already lapsed on March 6.
“I was informed that you are accusing me of inciting the community. I challenge the person who said that to stand up and say it to my face,” she declared.
“The court gave you a deadline of three months to file your reports. That time expired on March 6. Show me any proof that I have incited the community.
You are using the police and the assistant commissioner as a weapon against me. How have I incited the people?”
Her heated remarks caused unrest, with several NEMA officials leaving the hall as uniformed police officers monitored the situation outside.
The Supreme Court ruling on December 6, 2024, upheld a previous judgment by the Environment and Land Court (ELC), which had initially awarded Ksh1.3 billion to victims of lead poisoning in Owino-Uhuru.
The Supreme Court, however, increased the compensation by an additional Ksh700 million to fund environmental restoration efforts.
It also directed a fresh evaluation of compensation for residents who suffered severe health complications and loss of life.
This legal battle stemmed from a petition filed by the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) alongside affected residents.
The community had endured years of exposure to lead pollution caused by a lead-acid battery recycling plant, which had been in operation since 2006.
As part of the Supreme Court’s directive, NEMA was tasked with assessing the extent of contamination in the Owino-Uhuru settlement and taking immediate action to restore the environment.
The court ordered the agency to provide quarterly reports to the Environment and Land Court in Mombasa, detailing progress on the restoration and compensation efforts.
Despite these directives, frustrations remain high among the affected residents, who feel that NEMA has delayed justice and failed to act within the required timeframe.
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