The National Assembly’s Public Petitions committee, headed by Hon. Nimrod Mbai, met with stakeholders to peruse a petition by Hon. Vincent Musyoka of Mwala regarding the pollution affecting River Athi.
The pollution is primarily caused by industrial effluents and residential waste. In order to gather comprehensive information, the committee conducted fact-finding missions both upstream and downstream of the river.
During the proceedings, Mr. Liban Roba, the Managing Director of Tana Athi River Development Authority (TARDA), informed the committee that their authority had been diminished and delegated to other agencies, rendering them unable to take effective action. Hon. Bwire raised concerns about TARDA’s collaboration with other agencies to fulfill its mandate and challenged the notion that being “toothless” should serve as a valid excuse.
Hon. Mbai questioned TARDA’s involvement in the Nairobi River Commission and urged them to take action to prevent Kenyans from consuming contaminated water containing heavy metals, as River Athi serves as a source for Thwake Dam.
The hon members also expressed concerns about the County Government of Machakos approving developments that do not meet legally established standards. When accountability for the pollution issue was addressed, the CEO of MAVWASCO highlighted the main challenge they face, which is the National Government’s failure to transfer assets to county governments. This has resulted in agencies competing for limited resources without clear mandates, leading to overlaps in responsibilities.
Expressing their disappointment, the committee reiterated its intention to hold the stakeholders accountable and stressed that simply claiming to be doing their best is inadequate. The committee demanded answers, emphasizing the potential hazards if the issue with River Athi is left unaddressed, particularly regarding its drainage into Thwake Dam.
