NEMA Kenya in partnership with United Platform Solutions (UPS), has developed the Kenya Online Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (KOCEMS)—a landmark initiative that introduces a new era of digital environmental regulation and real-time pollution monitoring in Kenya.
KOCEMS was unveiled today in an event presided by the CS Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa, EGH accompanied by NEMA’s Mr. David Ong’are, Director Environmental Compliance representing the Director General.
While making her key note address, the CS stated that air pollution remains a major environmental and public health challenge across Africa, contributing to over 1.1 million premature deaths annually.
She underscored that the introduction of this system represents a major step in not only strengthening environmental compliance and enforcement but also supporting evidence based policy decision making which will enhance the protection of public health and the environment. The CS encouraged all regulated facilities to work closely with NEMA and the UPS to ensure the successful implementation of the program.
The statement by NEMA DG Dr. Mamo B. Mamo, EBS indicated that the initiative is anchored in Regulation 59 of the Environmental Management and Coordination (Air Quality) Regulations, 2024, which require regulated facilities to install a web-based Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) which shall transmit real time emissions data to the Authority.
Through the system, NEMA will have 24/7 real-time visibility into emissions from factories, power plants, cement plants, refineries, and other industrial facilities across the country.
The system uses AI-enabled analytics and IoT-based emissions sensors installed at industrial facilities to continuously track emissions data and transmit it to a centralized environmental monitoring platform.
The system will allow the Authority to measure and analyze real-time data on air, water and noise pollution throughout the country.
By Anthony Solly
