KENYA – The Kenya National Environmental Authority (NEMA) convened a meeting on February 8th with producer responsibility organizations (PROs) to deliberate on the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility in Kenya.
This meeting was prompted by the identification of 29 companies whose products were deemed responsible for polluting the Nairobi River, with a directive to rectify the situation within 30 days.
In response, the four PROs in attendance—Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organization (KEPRO), Kenya Hazardous Waste Producer Responsibility Organization (KEHAPRO), Electronic Waste Producer Responsibility Organization of Kenya (EPROK), and Packaging Producer Responsibility Organization (PAKPRO)—asserted their willingness to collaborate with NEMA in executing EPR initiatives.
Furthermore, the PROs emphasized their readiness to comply with NEMA’s directives to restore the identified sites and to furnish an EPR plan for the Nairobi River catchment.
Joyce Gachugi, CEO of PAKPRO, lauded the development in a LinkedIn post, stating, “We have agreed on a collective stakeholder approach to tackle this systemic issue that has persisted for decades.”
To expedite the recommendations arising from the meeting, KEPRO held a subsequent meeting earlier today with the Nairobi River Commission management, headed by Commissioners Eva Muhia and Carlotta Dal Lago, alongside CEO Brigadier Joseph Muracia.
During this session, the KEPRO team received insights into the comprehensive efforts undertaken by the commission in collaboration with various stakeholders to rehabilitate the Nairobi Rivers Basin.
Discussions also revolved around potential areas of collaboration between the two entities, including community sensitization initiatives along the river basin aimed at fostering responsible waste management practices.
Additionally, critical interventions were delineated to address the accumulation of legacy waste obstructing the free flow of water in the rivers.
NRC Commissioner Eva Muhia commended KEPRO for spearheading Kenya’s journey towards realizing a Circular Economy, underscoring the importance of coordinated upstream and downstream interventions along the River Basin while capitalizing on the strengths of other stakeholders in the ecosystem.
KEPRO has been actively engaging local communities in clean-up initiatives, including organizing awareness sessions on sustainable waste management practices and conducting clean-up exercises across various parts of Nairobi city earlier this month to mark the 2024 World Wetlands Day.
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