Nema stops petrol station construction

By MUNENE KAMAU

Kirinyaga,Kenya:The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has halted the construction of a petrol station at the entrance of a supermarket in Kerugoya town, Kirinyaga County.

The project, said to be worth millions of shillings, was at its completion stages when the authority moved in and raised a red flag over the safety of shoppers.

According to a senior officer within the Nema office in Kerugoya, Samuel Nyaga, the project, which is an undertaking of the Kirinyaga District Cooperative Union, fails to comply with the required standards.

“The union should have sought for clearance from the Energy Regulatory Authority, (ERC), which is mandated to license such ventures,” Nyaga said.

Contacted for comment, the union’s acting general manager Njiru Ngari confirmed the project had been stopped on technicalities. He said ERC officials had inspected the site over a month ago but were yet to release their findings or recommendations.

“Once we receive a feedback from ERC, we shall abide by all its recommendations to the best of our ability for the interests raised by Nema,” he said.

The four-storied building is occupied by several law firms, among other businesses.

other clients

If the petrol station was to be operational, according to Nema, the safety of shoppers and other clients at the building would be compromised by the hustle and bustle of the motorists, especially matatus.

A shopper at the supermarket, Ms Jane Wangui, said the petrol station would be a risk to their safety as motorists don’t seem to care about pedestrians.