On the 25th and 26th August 2025, the team, led by Committee Secretary Ms. Mary Njogu and Committee Members Mr. William Nairuko, Mr. Ernest Kioko, HSC, Eng. Stephen Muli and Mr. Brian Onderi, responded to a complaint lodged by the Menengai West Stakeholders Forum (CBO) regarding geothermal activities under Phase I (within the Menengai Caldera) and Phase II (on community and private land).
As part of the engagement, the team paid a courtesy call to the County Commissioner, Dr. Loyford Kibaara, MBS, followed by a well-attended public baraza convened at the A.I.C. Tulwobmboi Church Grounds. The forum brought together key officials, including the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), the area Member of Parliament (MP), and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
During the baraza, the community expressed strong concerns and opposition to the project, citing significant environmental and health impacts associated with the geothermal activities.
The team then convened a consultative meeting with key environmental stakeholders to deliberate on the complaint, with the aim of fostering an amicable resolution.
The meeting was followed by site visits to the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) facilities to assess existing and new geothermal wells, and to community land to evaluate proposed sites for additional wells. The team also verified property boundaries and inspected the area to confirm the alleged presence of shanties as indicated in the EIA report.
On 25th, the NECC team in Nyamira County paid a courtesy call on Nyamira Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Madam Florence Obunga.
Subsequently, the team convened a stakeholders’ consultative meeting to address the following environmental concerns:
- Improper solid waste disposal and wastewater discharge from Nyakeore Mixed Secondary School onto the neighboring farm of Mrs. Jesca Achinga, resulting in environmental degradation.
- Illegal mining activities by Sovit Ltd. in Manga Sub-County, which have contributed to environmental harm.
During the meeting, Madam Florence confirmed that her office had received both complaints. She recommended that improper waste management by schools be addressed through public forums involving the school administration and affected neighbors, and she pledged full support to the NECC team and other environmental stakeholders throughout the resolution process.
Following the consultations, NECC initiated investigations at Nyakeore Mixed Secondary School, confirming that the school was indeed disposing of solid waste and discharging wastewater onto private land.
A public forum was subsequently held and attended by the school’s deputy principal and board members, the complainant, environmental stakeholders, and representatives from the DCC’s office, the Ministry of Interior, and the National Government Administrative Office (NGAO) to deliberate on corrective measures.
On 26th, the team conducted an on-site investigation in Manga Sub-County, Nyamira County, to assess environmental degradation linked to unauthorized mining activities in Kiambaraa and Kiangoso villages.
The assessment established the following findings:
- The mining operations in both villages are located on private land managed by Sovit Ltd., straddling the border between Nyamira and Kisii Counties.
- Sovit Ltd. lacks the required licenses and permits from either county government, rendering the operations illegal.
- The primary mineral being extracted is kaolin, which is commonly used in the manufacture of ceramics and paints.
On 27th August 2025, the NECC team in Kisumu County conducted investigations into key environmental concerns, namely:
- Noise pollution from entertainment joints, restaurants, and bars in Kimute Estate, Kisumu Central Sub-County.
- Unsustainable sand harvesting in Guba, Kajulu, Kisumu East Sub-County.
- Unsustainable sand harvesting by Kibos Sugar Company in the Research Sugar Area, Muhoroni Sub-County.
The exercise commenced with a courtesy call to County Commissioner Mr. Benson Leparmorijo, followed by a stakeholder consultative meeting with key environmental actors in the county.
Subsequently, field investigations were carried out in Kimute Estate, where the team engaged owners of The Otro Club, Mamba Hotel and Restaurant, and Hawaii Makuti regarding noise pollution complaints.
The team then proceeded to Kajulu and Muhoroni, accompanied by officers from the County Government and NEMA, to assess environmental degradation resulting from sand harvesting by artisanal miners.
On 25th August 2025, the NECC team conducted investigations in Makueni County following multiple public complaints of environmental degradation. The key issues under review were:
- Environmental degradation caused by sand harvesting activities along River Kaiti and River Kasikeu.
- Land and water resource degradation resulting from an oil spillage incident in the Kiboko area.
The exercise commenced with a courtesy call to the County Commissioner’s Office, where Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mr. Paul Langat represented the County Commissioner.
This was followed by a stakeholder consultative meeting in the County Commissioner’s boardroom to deliberate on the reported environmental concerns. The meeting brought together representatives from NEMA, the Sand Harvesting Authority, the Water Resources Authority (WRA), the County Government of Makueni, and the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of the National Government.
The team later conducted an on-site visit to River Kaiti to assess the extent of environmental degradation resulting from sand harvesting activities.
On 26th, the team conducted an on-site investigation in Kilome Sub-County, Makueni County. To respond aa complaint on sand harvesting along River Kwalee, the team assessed the situation accompanied by a team from Sand Harvesting Authority.
The team then visited a sand holding site in Malili Ward, where sand believed to have been transported from the neighboring Kajiado County was being stored. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the legality and environmental impact of the sand harvesting and storage activities.
On 26th, the NECC team conducted investigations in Kitui County on cases of environmental degradation arising from sand harvesting activities along River Kivou and River Tiva.
The engagement began with a courtesy call to the County Commissioner, Mr. Kipchumba Rutto, to deliberate on the complaints raised by members of the public.
This was followed by a stakeholder consultative meeting to discuss the concerns and identify practical solutions. During the meeting, several key resolutions were adopted to support the implementation of the Sand Harvesting Regulation Act, 2024, together with relevant County Government laws governing sand harvesting and environmental conservation.
Later in the day, the team visited the Deputy County Commissioner’s (DCC) office in Mwingi Central to obtain additional information and insights on the matter before proceeding to site inspections along the affected river sections.
