The Environment, Forestry, and Mining Committee of the National Assembly on Tuesday received a petition regarding mining activities in Maai Mahiu Ward, Naivasha Sub County, Nakuru County.
The petition was submitted through Hon. Jane Kihara, Member of Parliament for Naivasha Constituency.
The petition, described as urgent, is signed by a local group called Kanairobi Community.
It is addressed to the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Mining via the National Assembly Clerk’s office.
The group detailed several negative effects of rock blasting in the Kanairobi area.
They called on the Committee to intervene to protect over 300 affected homesteads.
The blasting is linked to quarry and ballast businesses.
The petition lists the effects as psychological distress to elderly and sick residents, noise pollution, and fear caused by flying rocks.
Community members report disrupted sleep and breathing difficulties due to dust and fumes.
Other issues raised include displacement of residents without compensation, eye problems such as irritation and blurred vision, disturbances from vibrations and drilling sounds, and harm to domestic animals and houses.
The group accused the National Government Agencies Office (NGAO) and the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) of ignoring their complaints despite repeated reports.
The Committee session Chair, Hon. Feisal Bader (Msambweni), along with Members Hon. Yakub Adow (Bura) and Hon. Charity Kathambi (Njoro), agreed that a site visit is necessary for fact-finding.
Hon. Kathambi praised Hon. Kihara for supporting her community and urged the Committee to act seriously.
“It is good that Naivasha MP Hon. Kihara has risen to the occasion and is joining her affected community members in calling on the Committee on Environment to visit the affected area. As a Commitee we must handle this with seriousness. Naivasha is not far from Nairobi”, said Hon. Kathambi.
The Committee also discussed two submissions from civil society groups Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Haki Madini Kenya (HMK).
Both oppose the proposed Rimula-Mwibona open-pit gold mining project by Shanta Gold Kenya Ltd., located in Siaya and Vihiga counties.
The groups raised concerns about the project’s potential impact on human rights, ecosystems, public infrastructure, and livelihoods. They highlighted deficiencies in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report.
A memorandum has been prepared to alert key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Mining, NEMA, the Environment Committee, and the Governors of Siaya and Vihiga counties.
The civil society groups call for suspension of the project until environmental issues are adequately addressed.