Two State entities have blamed each other for negligence that has allegedly led to the death of 20 people.  Officials from the Ministry of Health and those from the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) yesterday traded accusations in court over who was to blame for the failure to shut down a battery manufacturing factory.  The factory, Metal Refinery EPZ Ltd, has been accused of exposing residents to lead poisoning, leading to the deaths.  Over 3,000 people have sued Nema, Metal Refineries Limited and the Ministry of Health through the Center for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action...

Nema accused the ministry of disregarding its directive to close down the factory...John Ndung'u, a Ministry of Health official, told Lady Justice Ann Omollo that Nema never issued any directive to have the factory closed...