Residents of Jumbo in Rabai, Kilifi County held a demonstration to demand for immediate closure of a metal manufacturing company which they accuse of polluting the environment and causing health hazards in the area.
They claim some of them; children in particular have been suffering from various respiratory diseases such as chest pains and uncontrolled coughing due to dangerous smoke and chemicals being released from the company.
The angry residents led by Harrison Gonzi (village elder), Mwangale Chitsa,John Makame and Mourine Munga also accused a number of government agencies including NEMA for failure to enforce the law on the company.
Meanwhile, Jumbo Metal Millers Ltd management denied the claims accusing the residents also of malice and ill motives against the company.
Addressing the media in his office over the claims , Govinda Patel, the Company General Manager however admitted that the problem of smoke coming from their furnace had been there but mitigation measures are already in place to curb it once for all.
Patel added that new technology has been put in place by their engineers to ensure smoke being released in the air from the company is environmentally friendly.
He also called on the area residents to be friendly and work together with the company which he said was providing them with employment and other social amenities.