The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has ordered the immediate closure of over 200 gold mining sites in the Kambi Karai and Lami Nyeusi regions along River Turkwel in Sigor, West Pokot County.
In a statement issued on Monday, June 9, the authority said the mining activities were causing significant harm to the environment and had been operating illegally without proper environmental oversight.
"The Authority has been receiving numerous complaints on the illegal mining points along River Turkwel, with more than 200 gold mining points. The sites are operating without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licenses, leaving deep holes and dirty waters along the river, making it unsuitable for domestic consumption," the statement read.
NEMA added that the shutdown would remain in effect until all sites meet the required legal and environmental standards.
"During the closure period, the Authority will be assessing the environmental compliance levels on the mining sites to ensure only the ones that meet EIA and Audit conditions, as well as decommissioning plans, will be licensed before resuming operations," the statement added.
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Notably, this comes three months after NEMA shut down three factories for operating without the required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licenses.
In a statement on Friday, March 7, NEMA said one of the facilities is in South C, Nairobi County, while two are in Samburu, Kilifi County.
In Samburu, NEMA mentioned that the factories were engaged in recycling iron and the pyrolysis of waste tyres.
Pyrolysis is a process that involves breaking down materials at high temperatures without oxygen, often used to recover fuel from waste tyres.
Following the closure, NEMA directed the facilities to conduct emission and ambient air quality analysis to assess the environmental impact of their operations.
"The Authority issued Improvement Notices to three pyrolysis plants for emitting fugitive emissions, poor management of black carbon, and improper handling of extracted wires from the tyres.
"The facilities were instructed to conduct emission and ambient air quality analysis to evaluate the environmental impact of their operations," the statement read.
