African environmental activist won $12m for revealing Secret in Kenyan.

                     Environmental activist won $12m after decade of run-ins with government agencies.

Kenyan environmental activist Phyllis Omido raised a case againts a Kenyan Metal Refineries, a factory in which she is incharge of commissioning an enviromental impact assessment.

Case

In 2009, Ms Omido informed her employer a possible danger their business of battery recycling could bring to the neighbouring comminuty and requested a special attention be given to people living near the plant, but her plea fell on death ears.

Kenyan Metal Refineries is a firm in the coastal city of Mombasa which was extracting lead from car batteries through recycling process.

Incharge of environmetal impact assessment, Ms Omido presented an expert's report on impacts of their business on Owino Uhuru community but the company directors did not act on the findings. Many times she tried to draw the company's attention.

The Kenyan Metal Refineries Employee was sure the battery melting process emitted and discharged toxic fumes into the neighbouring densely populated Owino community. A toxic substance that affected both the air and the water, causing illness to the residents.

                         Toxic fumes casuse illness in Owino Community

Court Case

In 2010, Ms Omido's two-year-old son fell ill and underwent treatments and tests.Her child condition got so bad over time and was admitted to hospital, that was when a friend suggested a lead poisoning test for her child.It turned out he had high levels of lead in his blood. Ms Omido was shocked to know that her son had lead piosoning from breastmilk, an indication she also had lead poisoning in her blood. Three other children were tested for lead poisoning in the community, and the results confirmed positive.

She wrote to government agencies for action to be taken against the pollution but to no avail. The Nation Environmental Management Authority(Nema) argued that what Ms Omido was saying was ficticious and they were ready to prove it in court of law. To prove her point, she organised for more lead poisoning tests to be done kind courtsey an environmental organisation.

In 2012, she was detained for one night and charged with inciting violence after organising a march in Mombasa.In an interview with BBC, she stated "I just took it a day at a time. We were just depending on goodwill. When I was arrested for instance, I didnt even have money for bail.And I had 17 people to bail out". 

 

                     Public protest against lead poisoning in Owino commuinity.

After 10 years of struggle and frequent run-ins with the authorities, she got her case to court and the rulling went in favour of the community. Government agencies and the directors of the company which is currently not in operation are to pay a $12m court fine for negligence.

The judgement also ordered government agencies to clean Owino Uhuru within four months, and failure to do so will amount to another fine.

The $12m is not enough to compensate the harm caused, but Ms Omido believes the fund can be used for treament and medication. The environmental activist made it clear that the journey is not  over yet until the fine is paid for the course intended.

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