Nairobi: The world faces unprecedented environmental challenges, from climate change to resource depletion and escalating waste, and Kenya is no exception. Principal Secretary of the State Department for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Eng. Festus Ng'eno, emphasized the urgency of addressing waste management issues in Kenya, highlighting the immense volume of waste generated due to rapid urbanization and a growing population in the country.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Eng. Ng'eno revealed during the 10th Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Circular Economy Conference that each citizen produces approximately 0.5 kilograms of waste daily, leading to an accumulation of around 27,500 tons of waste per day nationwide. Alarmingly, 60 percent of this waste is not properly managed, contributing significantly to environmental degradation. The proliferation of plastic pollution and the complex challenge of e-waste are particularly concerning, posing threats to human health and Kenya's biodiversity.
Dr. Eng. Ng'eno underscored the importance of a circular economy strategy as part of the government's national development goals. The strategy aims to redefine growth by focusing on minimizing waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. The ministry plans to prioritize the development of this comprehensive strategy within the current financial year to transform value chains and foster green job creation.
KEPSA CEO Carole Kariuki highlighted the evolution of circularity from theory to practice, emphasizing its role as both an environmental agenda and an economic strategy that drives innovation and strengthens manufacturing. The conference also featured insights from various stakeholders, including the Project Director of Sustainable Inclusive Business Kenya (SIB-K), Ms. Karin Boomsma, who urged delegates to adopt a regenerative mindset rooted in indigenous wisdom.
Ms. Anja Berretta of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung stressed the importance of policy dialogue and systems thinking in creating an enabling environment for circular innovations. Meanwhile, Ms. Kamilla Heden Henningsen from the Embassy of Denmark in Kenya reaffirmed Denmark's commitment to supporting hands-on circular solutions.
The 10th Annual Circular Economy Conference and No Waste Festival commenced with the launch of the Textile Tool Kit: WearTheGreenFuture, aimed at promoting redesign, slow fashion, and circular opportunities within the textile industry. The conference will continue with the Kenya Plastics Pact (KPP) Summit, focusing on advancing a circular economy for plastics. Key initiatives include the launch of the No Single-Use Plastics Elimination Manual and the KPP's ambitious roadmap to 2030, which targets the elimination of problematic plastics and the integration of recycled content across all plastic packaging.
Co-hosted by Sustainable Inclusive Business Kenya (SIB-K) and the Kenya Plastics Pact (KPP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Kenya, the event is supported by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Kenya and other strategic partners. The conference, themed 'Reimagine: Looking Back into the Future,' convened over 300 delegates, including policymakers, industry leaders, and youth, to focus on 'Circularity in Action.'