• During a routine inspection in Karen, Nairobi, on August 22, 2024 the Authority found some petrol stations that need to be more compliant while others operate with expired Effluent Discharge Licenses.


The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has warned all facilities operating fossil fuel–powered generators to obtain emission licenses or risk prosecution.

During a routine inspection in Karen, Nairobi, on August 22, 2024 the Authority found some petrol stations that need to be more compliant while others operate with expired Effluent Discharge Licenses.

In addition, the Authority also established that despite having no emission licenses, some of these petrol stations emit pollutants above the permitted levels contrary to air quality regulations.

NEMA has, therefore, in its X-space, issued a stern warning requiring all petrol stations to take action in compliance with emission measurements and submit a report to enable them to acquire licensing.

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“Petrol stations are required to undertake stack emission measurements and submit the report to NEMA in order to obtain emission license for their generators,” NEMA said in part.

The facilities not complying with the regulations have received stringent orders on the improvements they need to make, failure to which they shall attract prosecution.

“Any person who fails to keep records or fraudulently alters any records under this Act commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to an imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than four years, or to a fine of not less than two million shillings but not more than four million shillings, or to both,” NEMA added.

The Authority requires that all regulated facilities keep up-to-date environmental compliance records, which include licenses, Audit Reports, and environmental Monitoring records at the site where they are established.

The demand is in line with The Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA1999) section 121, which establishes an appropriate legal and institutional framework for the management of the environment and for matters connected in addition to and incidental to it.

According to the Act, any person convicted of not adhering strictly to the provided regulations as stated in the Act attracts imprisonment of up to four years in jail or a fine between two to four million shillings.

NEMA has therefore appealed to the general public to register their compliance by updating their records and ensuring they are available and on display at the establishments' sites.