From February 17 to 20 2025, NECC conducted environmental investigations in Kilifi, Mombasa, and Kwale Counties. The investigations were led by Committee Members, including Chairman Hon. Godana Doyo and Mr. William Nairuko in Kilifi, Ms. Mary Njogu (Committee Secretary) and Mr. Ernest Kioko, HSC, in Mombasa, alongside Mr. Brian Onderi and Mr. Rodney Omari (Administrator) in Kwale County.
The team engaged in courtesy calls to County Commissioners, consultative meetings with environmental stakeholders, discussions with complainants and respondents, and site visits to assess key environmental concerns.
17 February:
The team, led by Chairman Hon. Godana Doyo and Mr. William Nairuko, paid a courtesy call to Kilifi Assistant County Commissioner, Ms. Alice Kalimbo, followed by a consultative meeting with environmental stakeholders.
Key discussions focused on:
1️⃣ Potential environmental impact of a proposed LPG company
2️⃣ Encroachment & destruction of Kaya Bomu in Rabai
3️⃣ Environmental risks from a proposed nuclear plant & quarrying in Uyombo
The team later visited Kaya Bomu, one of the affected sites, for an on-ground assessment.
The team led by Mr. Brian Onderi and Mr. Rodney Omari, paid a courtesy call to the County Commissioner’s office in Kwale County. The team was received by Ms. Lucy Ndemo, the Deputy County Commissioner, and Mr. Sokoine Kedienya, the Assistant County Commissioner. The DCC was representing the County Commissioner, who was away on other official engagements.
Following the courtesy call, the team held a consultative meeting with environmental stakeholders from the County to discuss pressing environmental concerns, including:
1. The proposed mining of rare earth elements in Mrima Hills, a gazetted Kaya and national monument, that poses a serious threat to both the forest ecosystem and cultural heritage.
2. Excessive noise emissions from a restaurant operating within Amani Luxury Apartment, Diani.
3. Deforestation and charcoal production in Kinango and Samburu that have led to severe destruction of wildlife habitats and biodiversity loss.
4. Persistent noise disturbances from Manyatta Resort and Disco Lounge in Diani have negatively impacted local residents and the surrounding environment.
5. The construction of illegal structures along the beaches in Diani, raising concerns over environmental degradation.
6. Follow-Up investigations into the construction of illegal structures at the Kongo River Delta beachfront to assess compliance with environmental laws.
7. Poor stormwater drainage during the rainy season affecting Ukunda, particularly around Reem Petrol Station to Ibiza Market, leading to frequent flooding.
To gain firsthand insights into some of these concerns, the team later proceeded for a site visit to Mrima Hill.
The team, led by Ms. Mary Njogu and Mr. Ernest Kioko, paid a courtesy call to Mombasa County Commissioner, Mr. Mohamed Noor Hassan, followed by a consultative meeting with environmental stakeholders to address key concerns, including:
- Sewage discharge in Tudor, Msaada Avenue
- Foul odor from raw sewage in Marikiti Market
- Blocked sewer line in Hamisi, Changamwe
- Illegal perimeter wall construction in Jomvu, which collapsed, tragically claiming five lives
To gain firsthand insights into some of these concerns, the team later proceeded for a site visit to Hamisi, Changamwe and Marikiti Market.
18 Frbruary
Following demonstrations by residents of Uyombo Village in Matsangani Location against the proposed nuclear construction and quarrying activities, a fact-finding team led by Hon. Chairman Goda Doyo and member William Nairuko visited the area to assess the situation.
The team first paid a courtesy visit to the area chief of Matsangani Location, who provided a briefing on the concerns and tensions surrounding the project. They then proceeded to inspect the proposed nuclear site and the quarry.
At Uyombo Market Centre, the team engaged with irate youths who had actively opposed the investors involved in the quarrying and stone blasting activities. The youth expressed their reliance on quarrying for their livelihoods but also voiced concerns about its long-term sustainability.
In response, the team emphasized the importance of environmental conservation and encouraged the youth to take a leading role in preserving their environment while exploring sustainable economic alternatives.
The research team, led by Paul Mburu and accompanied by CDE-NEMA Kilifi County, conducted an inspection at the proposed LPG plant site in Kokotoni, Mariakani.
The inspection followed community complaints regarding anticipated health and safety risks and potential environmental degradation associated with the factory’s construction.
The team, led by Ms. Mary Njogu and Mr. Ernest Kioko, began by paying a courtesy call to the Managing Director of MOWASCO to discuss ongoing wastewater and sewage treatment challenges and reaffirm commitment to continued collaboration between the organizations. The MD expressed commitment to improving wastewater and sewage treatment services and pledged support for enhanced operational efficiency.
Following the meeting, the team inspected two uncommissioned wastewater treatment plants:
1. Kipevu Wastewater and Sewage Treatment Plant
2. Kizingo Wastewater and Sewage Treatment Plant
During the Kipevu plant inspection, it was observed that substantial sewage was being generated from exhauster service vehicles. However, inefficient plant operations led to untreated effluent being discharged directly into the ocean, posing serious environmental risks and violating environmental standards. This discharge raises concerns about marine pollution and potential adverse impacts on human health and the ecosystem.
The team emphasized the urgent need for improvements to expedite wastewater treatment processes and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
In the late afternoon, the team arrived at the site in Jomvu, where a perimeter wall collapse tragically claimed seven lives. The local MCA, along with other stakeholders, joined the team to assess the situation and discuss necessary interventions.
Today, the team in Kwale, led by Mr. Brian Onderi and Mr. Rodney Omari, investigated the following:
1. Excessive noise emissions from a restaurant operating within Amani Luxury Apartments, Diani.
2. Persistent noise disturbances from Manyatta Resort and Disco Lounge in Diani.
3. The construction of illegal structures along the beaches in Diani.
4. Follow-up investigations into the construction of illegal structures at the Kongo River Delta beachfront.
19 February
The team in Kwale County, led by Dan Kinuthia, held a meeting with Shally Ronoh, Assistant County Commissioner, Kinango Sub-County, Kwale County
The discussion focused on concerns regarding deforestation and charcoal production in Kinango and Samburu. These activities resulted in significant destruction of wildlife habitats, biodiversity loss, and increased human-wildlife conflicts due to resource competition.
Notably, Kinango Sub-County is highly affected, primarily due to the lack of alternative livelihoods for residents, limited access to basic education among both the youth and elderly, and the exploitation of these vulnerabilities by external individuals engaging in illegal logging.
Additionally, there have been reported cases of injuries and fatalities caused by elephant invasions into human settlements, further exacerbating the challenges faced by local communities.
20 February
The team in Kwale conducted a courtesy visit to Mr. Nelson Lewa, the Chief of Vigurungani, Puma Ward in Kinango Sub-County. In his statement, Mr. Lewa highlighted the rampant nature of these illicit activities within the sub-county. He noted that youth, predominantly Class 8 dropouts, engage in systematic deforestation and charcoal burning, focusing on one area at a time. Once resources are depleted, they relocate, leaving the land barren and unproductive.
Currently, these activities are concentrated in Busa, Mwereni, and Mwandimu, where the youth primarily use motorcycles to transport charcoal to Mombasa.
A section of Njalo, Busa Sub-location, where numerous trees were felled in preparation for charcoal burning. Additionally, the team observed a kiln in close proximity to the felled trees.
The team visited Kibanda Village to gain deeper insight into the matter. Accompanied by Mwandigo Bechizi, the Area Assistant Chief, we engaged with Peter Mwambuti to discuss the root causes of logging and charcoal burning, as well as potential solutions.
Findings indicated that the issue was driven by a lack of basic necessities such as food and water, forcing community members to seek immediate means of survival.
Additionally, the area contains valuable gemstones, and through Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), some members benefit from mining and selling them to foreigners. However, they face challenges such as inadequate transportation, food, water, and mining equipment.
Mr. Mwambuti strongly believed that addressing these challenges could provide a sustainable solution and reduce the community’s dependence on charcoal production.
