A court in Eldoret has ordered that a poles treatment plant be closed after two parents filed a case suing the company for pollution.
Carolyne Kerubo Omwoyo and Yusuf Mahmoud Athman moved to court claiming that Abao Investments Limited was polluting the environment which has affected families in the area.
The two accused the company of failing to take the necessary measures to ensure its effluent is properly disposed and does not affect the environment.
The parents told the court that the plant produces a lot of noise, stench and vibration day and night adding that they have been forced to transfer their children to boarding schools after their health and academic performance was affected.
The two who were also suing the Uasin Gishu County Government said the plant was operating without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licence and was cleared by the county government for operation without the authority of National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).
Abao Investments, however, dismissed the claims by the two parents saying they obtained the licences legally and that there was no evidence that their operations affected Omwoyo and Mahmoud's, children.
“The petitioners, as well as the members of the general public, were consulted. Public participation was facilitated through the administration of interviews and focus group meetings in the neighbourhood,” Abao said in defence.
Environment and Lands Court in Eldoret judge Anthony Ombwayo in his ruling said the company failed to follow the right procedure in obtaining EIA licence within the 30 days it was given.
Judge Ombwayo also directed that an audit be conducted by NEMA to address the environmental issues raised in court.