Also known as: NEMA · Kenya's National Environment Management Authority
Government agency that participates in emergency response and environmental oversight operations including search and rescue and building-related enforcement activities.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Citizen Digital
… On January 24th, yet another multi-agency team was unveiled with the usual impressive lineup, including the National Police Service, the National Construction Authority, the National Environment Management Authority and Nairobi County planning officials. …
BONYO'S BONE: South C building: Then what?Capital News
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 6 — Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has directed the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to step up enforcement of environmental laws, warning that violators will face immediate sanctions, including closure of facilities. …
CS Barasa Orders NEMA to Enforce Environmental Laws ‘Without Compromise’ Amid Riparian CrackdownThe Standard
… The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) also published draft e-waste regulations in 2025, with a Bill sponsored by nominated Senator Peris Tobiko proposing stringent measures for managing waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the country. …
Revealed: Consumption outpacing recycling of wasteThe Standard
… Where is the National Environment Management Authority while our environment is being destroyed?” he posed. …
Governor Kachapin warns against illegal gold mining in West PokotThe Standard
… It is a public health and environmental issue, but also an untapped economic resource," said Bonnie Mbithi, Chief Executive Officer of the WEEE Centre.The WEEE Centre is among the few facilities licensed by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to transport and pro …
Kenya's e-waste hits record high as recycling laws stallThe Standard
… Establishing a pool government service fee of say Sh3000 per container to support the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), KEPHIS, Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), KNRA, and all other agencies, for example, could be considered,” …
Port users decry increased levies by state agenciesThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeThe National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has warned that individuals found using banned plastic bags will be arrested and prosecuted as the crackdown intensifies. …
NEMA warns of arrests as crackdown on banned plastic bags intensifiesNational and county government officials in Mombasa have cracked down on developers illegally adding extra floors to high-rise buildings without approval. During a Friday enforcement operation, one developer was arrested for constructing additional floors beyond the seven originally approved without fresh NCA authorization.
29 June 2026 · The Standard →
National and county government officials in Mombasa have cracked down on developers illegally adding extra floors to high-rise buildings without approval. During a Friday enforcement operation, one developer was arrested for constructing additional floors beyond the seven originally approved without fresh NCA authorization.
29 June 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that Kenya's environmental policies—including plastic bag bans, Extended Producer Responsibility regulations, and the Sustainable Waste Management Act—represent a shift toward a circular economy that allows economic growth without exhausting natural systems.
24 June 2026 · The Standard →
During a Senate hearing on forced disappearances of young fishermen at Lake Nakuru, Kenya Wildlife Services Director General Erastus Kanga rejected a report tabled by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, saying he had not seen it and could not adequately respond to allegations without reviewing the document first.
23 June 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that Kenya's climate interventions must move beyond policy commitments to place communities at the centre of action and create economic incentives for environmental protection, noting that the country faces increasingly visible climate impacts including droughts and floods.
16 June 2026 · The Standard →
Public opposition to airstrip construction in the Upper Imenti Forest Reserve in Meru County is intensifying, with conservation groups, community leaders and environmental advocates calling for an immediate halt, warning the development threatens biodiversity and forest protection efforts.
16 June 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya has become the first African country to receive technical assistance from the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage, valued at approximately $700,000 (about Sh90,685,000), to undertake a comprehensive assessment of climate-related loss and damage experienced across the country over the last decade.
10 June 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya has become the first country in Africa and second worldwide to secure technical assistance from the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage, receiving approximately USD 700,000 to conduct a comprehensive national assessment of climate-related losses over the past decade. The support will help quantify the economic and social toll of floods, droughts, and other climate-induced disasters to inform policy, planning, and future international climate support claims.
9 June 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya has become the first African country and second globally to secure technical assistance from the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage, with approximately USD 700,000 in support for a comprehensive national assessment of climate-related loss and damage over the past decade.
8 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Kakamega County Assembly has approved a proposed Sh680 billion gold mining project in Ikolomani constituency by Shanta Gold Kenya after public hearings. The assembly's committee found that the company's engagement with local communities met the threshold for meaningful public participation and is progressing through required regulatory processes.
8 June 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya Wildlife Service says the planned relocation and expansion of the Nairobi Animal Orphanage in the park is a necessary conservation intervention to address growing demand for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, not a land grab. KWS stated the current facility, established in 1964 and occupying 7.4 acres, has outgrown capacity and the upgraded facility will provide expanded space, modern veterinary care, and rehabilitation zones.
8 June 2026 · The Standard →
The arrest of Nairobi's Urban Planning Chief Officer Patrick Analo Akivaga and seizure of millions from his home highlights deeper systemic failures at City Hall that enabled corruption. A February 2026 Ombudsperson report had previously cited abuse of power and urged his criminal prosecution alongside four others.
6 June 2026 · The Standard →
Anthony Khisa, a 40-year-old environmentalist in Bungoma County, has spent three years planting indigenous fruit-bearing trees under the Adopt-a-Tree initiative across schools, aiming to reverse environmental degradation and preserve traditional knowledge of Kenya's indigenous fruits and trees.
6 June 2026 · The Standard →
Residents of Mwakirunge in Mombasa County are calling for urgent action to address environmental and public health concerns linked to the 50-acre Mwakirunge dumpsite, established in 2009. They report years of unchecked waste disposal exposing families to air and water pollution, disease outbreaks, and hazardous living conditions.
5 June 2026 · The Standard →
The National Biosafety Authority has defended Kenya's legal and regulatory framework for genetically modified organisms in a High Court reply, stating the country has established comprehensive safeguards anchored on international agreements including the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (ratified in 2003), national legislation, and detailed regulatory guidelines developed over the years.
4 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Environment and Land Court stopped construction of the government's Southlands Affordable Housing Project in Lang'ata until fresh environmental approvals are secured and meaningful public participation is conducted. A three-judge bench partly allowed a petition against the project, finding the approval and implementation process fell short of constitutional and statutory requirements, though it dismissed claims the land had been irregularly set aside for private development.
29 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Environment and Land Court has halted construction of the Southlands Affordable Housing Project in Lang'ata, citing lack of meaningful public participation and failure to comply with mandatory environmental safeguards.
29 May 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's Supreme Court has ordered an environmental pollution case against Base Titanium to proceed before the High Court in Mombasa, striking down the company's appeal challenging the court's jurisdiction. The case, filed by Michael Kiswili on behalf of residents of Mavumo B village in Msambweni, Kwale County, alleges that Base Titanium's mining activities caused environmental degradation and water pollution.
24 May 2026 · The Standard →
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has alleged that powerful cartels pocket around Ksh.30 million to drive illegal high-rise developments in Nairobi's affluent estates, claiming developers use intimidation, bribery and manipulation of public participation processes.
20 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Health Principal Secretary has called on architects to adhere to Ministry of Health construction guidelines to reduce deaths from unhealthy environments. She emphasized that built environments are critical for public health promotion, noting that humans spend nearly 90 percent of their time indoors and that architectural choices directly influence future health outcomes.
15 May 2026 · The Standard →
An eight-storey building collapsed in Oloolua, Kajiado County, on Friday night with four people feared trapped. Search and rescue operations are ongoing with teams from the National Disaster Management Authority, the National Environment Management Authority, and national and county governments working together, though families are calling for the rescue effort to be hastened.
11 May 2026 · The Standard →
As Kenya's housing stock expands with fast, dense, affordable construction, researchers and child development experts question what the built environment is doing to children growing up in it, with developmental research suggesting homes may be undermining the learning of approximately 1.5 million children in Nairobi.
10 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
An opinion piece by Joseph Bonyo examines the January 2nd collapse of a 16-storey building under construction along Muhoho Road in South C, Nairobi, attributing it to institutional corruption, regulatory failure, and disregard for county building laws. The article notes that documents indicated the building was approved for only 12 floors yet collapsed while rising to the 16th floor, and criticizes the familiar cycle of government response followed by inaction.
7 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has directed NEMA to step up enforcement of environmental laws with immediate sanctions for violators, including facility closures. The directive targets riparian land encroachment and non-compliant waste management practices, with a focus on illegal waste disposal and compliance with the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022.
6 May 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya generated 55,596 tonnes of electronic waste in 2025, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, highlighting a mounting waste crisis even as the country strengthens circular economy efforts through legislation including the Sustainable Waste Management Act and Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations, which have enabled Producer Responsibility Organisations to manage e-waste on behalf of manufacturers and importers.
6 May 2026 · The Standard →
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin has warned of legal action against illegal gold mining in the county, accusing powerful interests of exploiting local resources while destroying the environment. He said the county received only Sh1,000 in royalties from gold mining over the past year and faulted gold merchants for operating without licences, alleging that external merchants have pushed out artisanal miners.
4 May 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya generated a record 55,956 tonnes of electronic waste in 2025, with more than 90 per cent bypassing formal recycling despite new disposal laws. Informal handlers strip devices for metals in open yards, leaving toxic residue that contaminates soil and water and poses health risks from hazardous substances including lead, mercury, and cadmium.
3 May 2026 · The Standard →
Port stakeholders at Mombasa have raised concerns over increased levies by government agencies, particularly a new nuclear regulatory screening requirement from KNRA that will require containerised cargo to pass through radiation monitors. The move, originally set for May 2024 but deferred to July 2026, has prompted complaints from port users about additional costs and potential delays to cargo clearance.
29 April 2026 · The Standard →
NEMA has warned of arrests and prosecution for individuals using banned plastic bags as the enforcement agency destroys confiscated stock and steps up compliance efforts. The crackdown is being sustained in partnership with other enforcement agencies, though officials cite cross-border challenges with Uganda where such bags are not banned.
25 April 2026 · The Standard →