The Environment and Land Court (ELC) in Mombasa has ordered the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to explain why it hasn't released compensation to victims of the Owino Uhuru lead poisoning disaster.

Justice Bellinda Akoth Akello warned that NEMA must submit a sworn affidavit detailing administrative steps taken to comply with a June 11, 2026 decree, any structural barriers to payment, and a legally binding payment plan.Failure to comply could result in the court ordering banks to release funds held by third parties to victims.The compensation award of Sh2 billion was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2020, but delays persist.The case stems from a battery recycling factory that contaminated residents of Owino Uhuru between 2007 and 2014.

The court emphasized that the delay is not an acquittal but a final warning, with automatic garnishee orders possible if NEMA fails to meet deadlines.Critics argue that delays risk further harming victims, highlighting systemic issues in environmental regulation and accountability.