On 6^th September 2023, KEPSA participated in the high-level ACS side event focusing on Circular Economy as a driver for green growth and climate resilience in Africa.  The side event was led by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and partners under the Kenya - Denmark Strategic Sector Co-operation, including KEPSA, other public institutions and development partners.

In a statement read at the side event by Mr. John Elungata, a Director in the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary Hon. Soipan Tuya, CBS, indicated that the Government had put in place the necessary legislative frameworks to promote circularity. This includes the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 and finalizes the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations.

 The Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 requires every producer to bear mandatory extended producer obligations to reduce pollution and environmental impacts of the products they introduce into the Kenyan market and waste arising therefrom. “The producers are expected to take care of their products and packaging at the post-consumer level, to ensure eco-design of products, seamless collection, recovery of valuables, appropriate recycling, and disposal in sanitary landfills.”

Mr. Mamo B. Mamo, EBS DG, NEMA, further shared the significance of the Act to Kenya's green transition by adding that “the recent enactment of the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 was a catalyst for the closing of material loops, by making sorting of waste at source mandatory for all waste generators.” He emphasized the need for a mindset change towards waste. He called for “individual and collective responsibility to take care and better manage waste as a resource for realizing a circular economy.”

County Governments are crucial in implementing sustainable production and consumption, particularly waste management. According to Dr Wilber K. Ottichilo, EGH, the Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Technical Committee, Council of Governors, and the Governor of Vihiga County, “Circular Economy in Kenya is anchored on green growth, making it mandatory for all production and consumption systems to adopt the ESG standards.”

While NEMA has made significant progress in regulatory implementation, Dr. Ottichilo called on the County Governments to further ensure local compliance. “We will no longer allow the throw-away culture, and we must push for the implementation of severe penalties on those who are found littering.

Ms. Emily Waita, Chair of KEPSA Environment Water and Natural Resources Sector Board, represented the private sector contribution to the circularity agenda. She called for increased public-private partnerships to advance the circular economy agenda. “As production and consumption rise, we are scrambling for resources, representing an $8 Billion investment opportunity in Africa. Let’s grab this opportunity and enhance sustainable manufacturing and consumption,” said Ms. Waita.

Sustainable production and consumption are all about doing more and better with less. It is also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable lifestyles. “Today’s consumers are very discerning in what they want. They want Sustainable, eco-friendly products and packaging that reflect their conscious purchasing choices. Thus, a business that doesn’t consider the lifecycle of its products is not a thriving business,” she reiterated, adding, “We can’t succeed in a failing society. At KEPSA, we remain at the forefront of pioneering conversations, regulations, and initiatives towards a truly circular economy.” On the importance of linking global and local actions, Ms. Waita appreciated the direction of “The Global Plastics Treaty as one of the best directions to support our national initiatives pushing for actions such as eliminating problematic and unnecessary plastics.”

Kamilla Heden Henningsen, the Strategic Sector Co-operation Counsellor on Environment and Circular Economy - the Danish Embassy, shared on the Kenya-Denmark Co-operation in a circular economy. In particular, industrial symbiosis is where one organization’s waste becomes another’s gold(input) within the same industrial zone. As Kenya designates special economic zones, drawing lessons from Denmark’s Kalundborg is important to ensure we industrialize responsibly. 

Under the DANIDA training programs, Denmark has supported knowledge and information transfer on the green and circular economy, further enabling the implementation of the Green Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan. As Kenya moves to the implementation phase of the sustainable waste management framework, there will be further cooperation in enhancing citizen awareness and engagement on the new provisions of the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022.   continued support to Kenya in education and awareness of assisted compliance.

Likewise, Elisa Luotonen from the African Development Bank (AFDB) acknowledged financing as a major gap in implementing the circular economy. “The Africa Circular Economy Alliance acknowledges the need for financial support to make a case for circular economy models and enhance the government’s capacity to establish and implement relevant policies and circular projects, measuring and mainstreaming them. The formation of the Africa Circular Economy Facility under the AFDB contributes to increased access to circular economy financing for circular interventions.”