The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has apprehended two individuals caught burning tyres in the open at Sihaam Limited in Rongai, Kajiado County.
In a statement, NEMA revealed that it’s environmental inspectors moved in after spotting the open burning activity at the facility, making arrests on the spot.
“NEMA environmental inspectors yesterday arrested two persons found burning tyres in the open at Sihaam Limited in Rongai, Kajiado County,” stated NEMA.
According to the authority, open burning of tyres is prohibited in the country and directly contributes to the degradation of ambient air quality, posing serious health risks to residents living near such industrial sites.
The two suspects were arrested at the scene in what NEMA confirmed was one of its latest enforcement actions under the newly enacted Air Quality Regulations, 2024.
Reports indicate that the Air Quality Regulations, 2024 stipulate that if anyone seeks to burn tyre wastes, they ought to do it under the supervision of NEMA, and should be done in a designated, equipped NEMA facility, making it clear that individuals and companies have no legal authority to handle hazardous waste on their own term.
One such approved facility is Uptex East Africa Limited in Kitengela, Kajiado County, which holds a NEMA licence to operate a recyclable waste transfer station that serves both industrial and domestic clients.
Additionally, the Nairobi City County Air Quality Act prescribes a minimum fine of Ksh500,000, at least six months in jail, or both, for burning waste without written authority.
