MPs to summon Kibos sugar bosses over pollution

The factory sits next to the Kibos Primary School for the Blind and Kibos Special Secondary School, which share a compound. [Photo, Standard]

Kenya's environment watchdog is set to appear before the National Assembly to explain how Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries Limited was allowed to set up next to Kibos Special School in Kisumu.

A joint team of three parliamentary committees will next month summon the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) to explain how the factory was allowed to set up so close to the school, whose population is allegedly being affected by pollution from the factory.

The factory sits next to the Kibos Primary School for the Blind and Kibos Special Secondary School, which share a compound.

The National Assembly committees on Education, Environment and Labour and Social Welfare will also summon county Education officials, the Kisumu County Commissioner as well as managers of the sugar miller as they seek to get answers on whether an environmental impact assessment and a public participation was done before the factory was built.

The Social Welfare committee chaired by Bura MP Ali Wario on Friday visited the schools where they were told bagasse soot and dust, smell from effluent and industrial processes and noise from the factory were interfering with learning in the institutions.

“I have seen the danger facing our children at a national school. It is not enough for them to say they will build a new school for these pupils, a narrative spun for the last six years. We want to know who allowed this and we want to know why," said Wario.

Koyoo said he would raise the issue in Parliament. 

He termed the environment unfriendly for learning by students with special needs.