The National Environmental Management Agency (NEMA) has ordered the immediate and permanent closure of 15 slaughterhouses in Kiamaiko.

The reason for the closure is the fact that the slaughterhouses have been releasing untreated waste into the Nairobi River.

NEMA boss Mamo Boru who was speaking to local media on Sunday said the slaughterhouse operators should be moved to the new abattoir in Lucky Summer, Njiru with immediately.

According to Boru, the operators have until the end of February to relocate.

"We have given them the month of February to organise themselves and move to the site. There are no extensions. We have really engaged them for long, now it’s time to move," Mamo ordered.

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Over 300 livestock are slaughtered daily at Kiamaiko however, the abattoirs release solid waste into the Nairobi River.

This had caused a similar closure in 2018 but it was lifted following an agreement the government had with the operators of the abattoirs.

The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) had issued a 14-day ultimatum to the owners of the slaughterhouses over the discharge of waste into the river or else face closure.

NEMA has said the closure of the slaughterhouses at Kiamaiko is a measure taken to ensure the regeneration of the Nairobi River stays on course.