Mombasa court awards Uhuru Owino lead poisoning victims KSh 1.3B

The Environment and Land Court in Mombasa has directed the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to compensate residents of Owino Uhuru for lead poisoning.

In a landmark ruling delivered on Thursday, July 16, Justice Anne Omollo awarded KSh 1.3 billion to the victims of lead poisoning emanating from a smelting plant in the area.

The matter had dragged in the corridors of justice since 2016, when families and victims sued the government through Center for Justice Governance and Environmental Action founder Phyllis Omido.

The civil group listed close to 3,000 people from 580 households including former workers of Kenya Metal Factory which emitted the heavy metals.

who lost some of their relatives while survivors left with medical complications.

The residents had demanded KSh 1.6 billion in terms of compensation to enable those affected seek specialised treatment.

Omido jointly sued, NEMA, Environment and Health ministries, Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) and Penguin Paper and Book Company failing to treat industrial wastes.

The lady justice found all the accused liable for the horror that had since left hundreds of dwellers with different health conditions.

The court also ordered State agencies in charge of environment to clean up the area and rid it of all the affluent or pay up KSh 700 million in default.

In terms of liability, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources as well as that of Health will pay up 10% of the total compensation. Same amount as EPZA.

The environment authority was handed the heaviest penalty translating to 40%, Kenya Metals will pay 25% while Penguin and Book Company each got 5%.