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The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is the principal agency of the Government that was created under the Environment Management and Coordination Act, CAP 387. The Authority is established to exercise general supervision and co-ordination over all matters relating to the environment and to be the principal instrument of Government in the implementation of all policies relating to the environment.

The Environment Management and Coordination Act, CAP 387, Section 9 (2k) the objects and function of NEMA requires that the Authority initiate and evolve procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may cause environmental degradation and evolve remedial measures where accidents occur. The Authority receives and responds to environmental incidents as per the National Incident Classification Scheme. 

Over the years, the Authority has faced challenges in response to incidents due to lack of a clear framework which ensures the principle of consistency as outlines in the Principles of compliance and enforcement is adhered to. Below is a list of some of the frequently asked question which the authority has attempted to answer in a bid to guide the general public on where to report different incidents.

All new developments listed under the second schedule of the EMCA CAP 387 are supposed to be subjected to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which involves a rigorous consultation process before issuance of an EIA License. The EIA license issued normally has conditions to protect the neighbors from dust, noise and other nuisance related to the development among other conditions.

Report to the nearest NEMA County Director of Environment their contacts are available on the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or call NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The county government is responsible for business licensing  and zonation hence you may consult the nearest County Government office on the licensing of such a business.

A factory established is one among listed under the second schedule of the EMCA CAP 387 and ideally should undertake Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which involves a rigorous consultation process before issuance of an EIA License. The EIA license issued normally has conditions to protect the neighbors from dust, noise and effluent discharge among other nuisance related to the development;

Report to the nearest NEMA County Director of Environment their contacts are available on the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or call NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

According to the Environmental Management and Coordination (waste Management) regulations, 2006, the responsibility of safe disposal of waste lies with the generator of the waste and hence there should be no waste disposed in undesignated site within the estate or public areas.

Collection and disposal of municipal waste in designated sites is a function of the County Government. Report or complain to the nearest County Government offices on the illegal waste disposal.

Handlers of hazardous waste such as biomedical/ hospital waste, batteries, waste oil, E-Waste, scrap metal and asbestos among other should be done by NEMA licensed operators for safe collection and disposal.

Report to the nearest NEMA county Director of Environment their contacts are available to the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or the NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Open burning of waste is illegal and should be reported to the County Government of your respective county.

The owner of an onsite Effluent Treatment facilities such as septic tanks, bio digesters, wetlands e.t.c. should ensure that the plant is functional and efficiently working before discharging to the environment. NEMA regulates the Effluent treatment facilities though Effluent Discharge License (EDL) as provided for under the EMC (Water Quality) Regulations, 2006.

The public health department approves and monitors operation of effluent treatment facilities for buildings.

Report sewer discharge from an effluent treatment facility to the nearest public health office or to the nearest NEMA County Director of Environment their contacts are available to the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or the NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Major Sewerage infrastructure is the property of the water services board but managed by the water and sewerage companies. Any burst sewer line or a blocked manhole discharging into the environment should be reported to the water and sewerage companies e.g. NCWSC, RUJWASCO for action;

Report to the nearest NEMA County Director of Environment their contacts are available to the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or the NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Noise is a devolved function as per the Constitution of Kenya 2010. It is thus handled by respective counties. Report to the nearest County Government Office

Report to NEMA County Director of Environment their contacts are available to the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or the NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or to the nearest County Government Office

Report to the nearest NEMA county Director of Environment their contacts are available to the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or the NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Section 42 of the EMCA Cap 387 prohibits construction, blockage, diversion, or any disturbance of a river, lake, sea or wetland without prior approval from the Director General of NEMA through an Environmental Impact Assessment process  

Report to the nearest NEMA County Director of Environment their contacts are available to the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or the NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or to Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA)

Report to the nearest NEMA County Director of Environment their contacts are available to the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or the NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please contact the County Governments of your respective counties or the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) offices

Contact the nearest Kenya Forest Service offices (KFS) or the County Government Office;

Report to the nearest NEMA County Director of Environment their contacts are available to the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or the NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Report to the nearest NEMA County Director of Environment their contacts are available to the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or the NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Report to the nearest Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) office, or Public Health Office or NEMA County Director of Environment their contacts are available to the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or the NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please contact the County Governments of your respective counties;

Any NEMA license construction project is require to have a sign post with a NEMA Reference no. You can get in touch with the NEMA County Director of Environment their contacts are available to the NEMA website; www.nema.go.ke or the NEMA hotline 0786 101 100 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.