By I, KNA
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is struggling to keep pace with rising development projects in Kajiado county amid staff shortages, lack of equipment and limited community awareness.
NEMA, a national government agency mandated to supervise environmental activities, oversees every major development in the county.
It is tasked with conducting environmental impact assessments to inspecting factories, schools and quarries as well as responding to pollution incidents.
But the task is proving overwhelming, Kajiado, one of the largest counties in Kenya, has only one NEMA office with eight officers. Covering thousands of square kilometers has become a near impossible mission.
The authority is also affected by shortage of equipment. Vehicles are few and inadequate for reaching remote areas. Laboratories crucial for testing soil and water samples are missing in the county, forcing officers to rely on Nairobi.
“Decentralization has not been fully achieved in Kajiado county. We lack the tools we need to be fully effective” said Kajiado County Director of Environment, Mark Angwenyi.
Compounding the problem is a lack of clear understanding among residents about NEMA’s role. Some view the agency as a bureaucratic roadblock, while others remain unaware of its legal mandate.
This has slowed environmental enforcement and led to friction with developers and the public alike.
In urban centers such as Kitengela and Kiserian, waste management has become a growing crisis. The absence of designated dumpsites has led to illegal dumping, clogged drains, and mounting health concerns.
According to NEMA, high levels of illiteracy and poor information flow has made it difficult to implement sustainable waste disposal practices.
Public sensitization remains low, and environmental laws are often ignored or misunderstood.
The agency has also faced tension with county environmental offices with overlapping roles leading to misunderstandings. Issues like sewer lines, which fall under county government, are wrongly blamed on NEMA.
Even though it faces numerous challenges, NEMA maintains that every project must undergo an environmental impact assessment before approval, and its officers remain active in inspections and licensing.
“Protecting the environment is not the work of NEMA alone. We need the county government, communities and private investors to step up as well.”Mr. Angwenyi stressed.
Despite the mounting challenges, NEMA remains on the ground—overstretched and under-resourced, yet committed to ensuring that development in Kajiado adheres to environmental standards.
