Three companies on the spot following a fumes incident that disrupted KCSE

The Mombasa County government has put on spot three(3) companies linked to fumes that engulfed the Makande area on Thursday morning.

The fumes, which caused widespread panic, affected students sitting for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams at Makande Girls' School and nearby residents.

The three companies under scrutiny include a paint factory, a fish processing and packaging plant, and an oil storage facility.

The fumes were so strong that they forced the relocation of candidates sitting their Kiswahili paper to a nearby school.

A multi-agency team who responded to distress calls, with initial investigations pointing to the paint factory as the primary suspect.

The team suspects the factory may have been improperly disposing of chemical waste, into the storm water drainage system.

Addressing the journalists Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir confirmed that the paint factory is the main focus of the investigation, though the fish processing plant and the oil storage facility are also being looked into.

“We have identified a factory that is a primary suspect. It is a paint manufacturing facility, and evidence from stormwater manhole covers suggests they might have been disposing of chemicals into the storm water system,” said the Governor.

Adding that they have requested to see the licenses of each business involved in these activities.

"For now, the strongest indication is towards the paint factory, given the distinct odour coming from the area," he said.

To aid investigations, samples have been collected from the factories. The Governor assured that investigations will continue until the cause of the fumes is fully determined.

The fumes affected five students at Makande Girls, two of whom were taken to the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, while the other three were treated at Bandari Hospital.All students are now in stable condition.

The swift response from the multi-agency team included officials from the County Commissioner’s office, security personnel, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), intelligence services, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra), and the National Environment Management Authority (Nema). Public health and firefighting teams from the county government also joined the investigation efforts.

Mombasa County Public Health officials have been tasked with monitoring the air quality in the area to ensure that it is safe for students and residents before the school is reopened.

In a statement, Mombasa County Commissioner Mahmoud Noor assured residents that the county government is taking the matter seriously.

“No child missed their exams; those affected received medical care and completed their exams at the hospital. We are committed to safeguarding our community’s well-being,” Mr Noor said.

Governor Nassir also emphasized that safety will remain a top priority.

"We will continue to work with all relevant agencies to determine the source of the fumes and take appropriate action," Governor Nassir said.

As investigations continue, the Mombasa County government has pledged to ensure the safety of its residents and students, with a focus on addressing any environmental hazards that may have contributed to Thursday’s alarming incident.