By Joseph Muchiri
The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) is planning to take legal action against Embu Provincial General Hospital for failure to acquire recommended incinerators. Eastern Provincial Director of Nema Stephen Njoka said the hospital was using a chimney to destroy waste materials, which he said were polluting the environment.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Mr Njoka said the health facility must go for the incinerators recommended by law and save the public from further exposure to harmful waste.
He pointed out that people living around the hospital could move to court and seek compensation from the facility.
“The hospital has been complaining about the exorbitant cost of incinerators as it continues to pollute the environment, which will not be condoned anymore,” said Njoka.
Njoka also revealed he has prepared a case file to take Embu Municipal Council to court for failure to collect waste from the town’s dump sites.
He said the council has neglected collection of waste, exposing the public to unwarranted suffering.
“Cats and dogs are interfering with the waste and may result in outbreak of diseases if no action is taken to save the public,” said Njoka.
Garbage collection
The director said members of the public have registered their concern over failure by the council to collect the waste, which is now becoming a health hazard.
“The council is citing lack of transport as an impediment to the collection of garbage in estates ,” he said.
Njoka added that they have given the council one week to collect the waste or find itself in court, saying the civic body had turned down suggestions of outsourcing services in waste management.
