Electrical and electronic waste is risky to the environment if left unchecked, Zetech vice chancellor Njenga Munene has said.
He said programmes geared towards managing e-waste are imperative and should be initiated by institutions of higher learning across the country to control the vice.
Munene said Zetech University is set to roll out a programme on e-waste management.
This follows a partnership with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Centre, the first e-waste recycling company in East Africa based in Nairobi.
It offers e-waste collection, dismantling and processing.
Munene spoke on Monday on Ruiru campus during an MoU signing with the firm.
He said the programme, which is intended to scale up the varsity’s capacity to meet its e-waste disposal needs, will be facilitated by the institution ICT innovation hub which was set up last year at Sh6.2 million.
“ICT being one of the key areas of sophistication at Zetech University, the partnership will fast track, facilitate and enhance liaison for research, training, information and dissemination of information on e-waste,” Munene said.
He said through the partnership, the two institutions have already formulated e-waste management strategies.
They will be implemented through sensitising staff, students and the community to e-waste management through the appropriate collection and environmentally friendly disposal measures.
“We should understand that lack of e-waste awareness, along with poor separation and disposal systems is hazardous to our environment and if not addressed in earnest it will be highly costly to manage in future,” Munene said.
“We are ready to join efforts with like-minded partners to make e-waste management in our country a success.”
Munene said Kenya generates 3000 tons of e-waste annually 70 per cent of which comes from youths and especially students.
He called on students to use their ICT training to advance their studies and careers for them to have a competitive edge in the job market.
“We are determined to train our students on the proper use of ICT facilities and internet to curb the rising cybercrimes,” Munene said.
“Individuals, as well as banks, have been defrauded millions of money by some rogue ICT gurus who are mostly students.”
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Centre chief commercial officer Simone Anderson said the partnership will groom more innovations in e-waste management.
“I'm confident that this agreement is going to unlock innovative ideas through mentoring students to be more innovative and techno-savvy,” she said.
Anderson said her institution will assist the university roll out the course on e-waste management urging the institution to review and improve its ICT structures to enhance environmental protection.
The university has already started training students on e-waste recycling in readiness for International E-waste Day which will be marked on October 14.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
