The Environment and Land Court in Mombasa has given the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the National Treasury 53 days to pay at least 10 per cent of the compensation awarded to victims of lead poisoning in Owino Uhuru, warning that their leaders could face personal penalties if they fail to comply.
The court ordered NEMA to submit a payment plan for the full compensation amount before the next mention of the case, as victims continue their fight to enforce judgments delivered in their favour after years of litigation.
The latest orders were issued during garnishee proceedings filed by the community to compel NEMA to pay compensation over pollution linked to a lead-acid battery recycling plant in Owino Uhuru, Mombasa County.
The court directed the two institutions to make the payment by December 15, 2026, warning that failure to meet the deadline could trigger penal orders against the institutions and their leaders in their personal capacities.
However, the court stopped short of issuing a Garnishee Order Absolute, which would have allowed the victims to recover the compensation directly from funds held in NEMA’s bank accounts.
In a statement following the ruling, the victims and the Centre for Justice Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA) expressed disappointment that the court had not issued the order.
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