Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a on Tuesday led residents in the closure of a blacktop factory in Gatuanyaga, Thika East over pollution claims.
Ng'ang'a who was in the company of National Environment Management Authorities (NEMA) officials, area Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Komen and residents, stormed the area and ordered an immediate closure of the industry.
The legislator said that she had been receiving concerns from area residents that the industry was causing pollution in the area thus she decided to intervene.
"I have been told that the factory has been emitting dangerous gases that may be pose a health risk people. What we would request the factory owners is to look for an alternative site away from human settlement," she said.
The industry’s management has however refuted the claims by the MP and the residents saying that they obtained all the necessary documents before starting up the industry and that they have been approved by NEMA to conduct their business.
Amos Yator, the factory's Managing Director said, "We had done a thorough environmental impact assessment before we set up the factory and NEMA approved it. NEMA has not told us the kind of pollution the factory has brought since we started operations.”
The MP insisted on the closure despite the sentiments from the management.