Flower farms put govt on the spot over law on pollution

Although flower farms have exonerated themselves from blame for poisoning Lake Naivasha, the law governing environmental principles for the lake basin remains largely ignored by a good number of the growers.

The interim test results have attributed recent fish deaths to vegetation decay and not chemical discharge from the farms, as many believed it to be.

Fingers are now being pointed at the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) and the Municipal Council of Naivasha for failing to ensure growing and waste disposal standards are adhered to by all.

While some farms have set up waste water treatment units, a few others are discharging garbage into the environment with impunity.

Last week, Nema announced it was conducting audits on 63 flower farms operating in Naivasha and directed the council to ensure waste water was treated before being discharged.

During a media tour of the lake organised by the Kenya Flower Council last week, it was established that illegal dealings in the lake’s troubled waters continue.

According to the KFC chief executive officer Jane Ngige, one large farm is behind the failure to implement the Lake Naivasha Management Plan. Part of the lake’s plan requires farms that have encroached on riparian land and set up permanent structures, to demolish them immediately.

It also stipulates that all the water extracted from the lake must be metered and controlled.

The farm in question is alleged to have encroached on riparian land and dug trenches to direct water from the lake to its farm.

The trench is also used to discharge waste into the lake.

Noting that the farm got away with the ill-practice, a few others have followed suit.

Some industry players are now asking the government to take action because the errant farms are well known instead of issuing threats while the industry continues to suffer a negative image.