The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) wants London Distillers to close shop over environmental pollution on residential housing developments worth millions of shillings.
A letter from NEMA stated that the move was informed by complaints from the public majorly residents of Great Wall gardens-a property under the Edermann Property Limited.
“Following the complaints, NEMA had sent its own environmental inspectors on the ground who carried out a thorough inspection of the affected areas and confirmed the situation was serious,” a letter from the environment watchdog read in part.
It is claimed that the booze firm has been emptying toxic wastewater into the surroundings of Great Wall Gardens which have led to discomfort and emergence of diseases among residents.
NEMA stated that it was acting in line with the constitution saying “every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment…and has the duty to safeguard and enhance the environment” a provision that the Athi River based distillery is blamed to have contravened.
The firm has been ordered to cease further operations at the site with immediate effect and address all issues raised in the closure directive.
After satisfactorily handling the first two requirements London Distillers will have to submit a letter of commitment to the authority to the effect that they will comply with the said requirements within a week from the date of receipt of the closure letter.
Failure to comply with the orders shall see the persons responsible face an imprisonment for a term not less than a year but not more than four years or a fine of between two million shillings and four million shillings or to both.
London Distillers have an option of either complying with the order or appeal to the National Environment Tribunal (NET).