Governor Susan Kihika Sentenced for Contempt Over Waste Disposal into Lake Nakuru

 

 

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has been sentenced to a six-month civil jail term or a Ksh2 million fine after being found guilty of contempt for illegal waste disposal into Lake Nakuru.

 

The ruling was made by the High Court following a case filed by Baboon Project Kenya, which accused Kihika and Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services CEO of ignoring a court order issued on September 26, 2024. The order had permanently banned the disposal of refuse into the lake in a bid to protect its ecosystem.

 

The Environment and Lands Court had aimed to curb the continued pollution of Lake Nakuru, but the NGO claims that the illegal waste disposal has continued, further damaging the lake. The court application stated, “Susan Kihika, being the Governor, officer, agent or servant of the 1st respondent (County Government of Nakuru), be committed to prison for a term not exceeding 6 months for failing to comply with the order of this court made on 26th September 2024.”

 

The court ruling highlights the ongoing battle to preserve the environmental integrity of Lake Nakuru, a key part of Kenya’s natural heritage.