Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Minister, Soipan Tuya has issued a stern warning against the use of single-use plastic.
She told the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and County Environment Committees to have targeted and sustained enforcement on single-use plastic with immediate effect even as the country works on plastic regulation.
The CS observed that Kenya relapsed because it did not sustain its enforcement of single-use plastic after the ban in 2017.
Speaking at the Lake Nakuru National Park during this year’s World Environment Day, Tuya who was accompanied by a delegation of senior people in Environment-related departments including National Assembly members of the Environment Committee., said it was unfortunate that paper bags were finding their way into the country.
Also Present was host Governor, Susan Kihika, Bahati MP, Irene Njoki and her Nakuru Town West counterpart, Samuel Arama.
She urged members of the public to play a role in the fight against single-use plastic bags by declining attempts by traders to pack goods on the banned products.
She said Kenya is happy to associate itself with the Netherlands and Cote d’Ivoire as members of the High Ambition Coalition calling for a strong and ambitious international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
She said the Ministry of Environment had developed a national solid waste management strategy aimed at assisting the County governments under whose mandate waste management falls, to take lasting solutions for waste management.
“This strategy is in line with the country’s blueprint vision 2030 which requires that counties put in place efficient and sustainable waste management systems as the country develops into a newly industrialised state by 2030,” said Tuya.
She said among the goals of the World Environment Days celebrations in Nakuru today was to take stock of the Country’s road to tackle plastic pollution, showcasing available solutions to plastic pollution and creating a platform for public education and awareness on the Ban on Plastics.
“This celebration is also to create awareness on the need to reduce all forms of environmental pollution, elevate environmental agenda in the country and create positive impact and behaviour change among individuals, communities, and private and public sector partners,” she said.
The CS said the government had included environment, especially waste management in the school curriculum in order to start training children on recycling at a very early age.
She added that 60 per cent of Kenya’s solid waste was organic which could be converted into fertilisers and aid in ensuring food security.
She noted that waste segregation was vital adding that it would soon be a requirement to separate organic and inorganic garbage at source.
Tuya said the day also created a platform for stakeholders to participate in environmental conservation guided by this year’s WED theme and raise awareness on environmental issues,” she said.
The year’s WED theme is ‘Solutions to Plastic Pollution’.
Tuya said Kenya had also developed a sustainable waste management policy, the National Marine Litter Management Action Plan and the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022.
“These policies and legislations have the objective of promoting sustainable waste management and reducing materials being deposited in dumpsites with the overall goal of is to improve the health of all Kenyans by ensuring a clean and healthy environment through the reduction of air, land, fresh water and marine pollution,” she said
Nakuru County Governor, Susan Kihika one of the most pressing environmental challenges today was plastic pollution as more than 400 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide each year.
She said Nakuru City generates about 700 tons of solid waste annually, of which 20 percent is plastic, and most are not lucrative for recycling and up-cycling, thus ending up as a menace.
“Single-use plastics clog our storm water drains causing flooding in case of heavy downpours, degrading our environment, choking our wildlife, and resulting in human health issues,” she said.
Kihika said her administration has embarked on greening and beautification programs in the urban areas.
She said her administration is keen on tree growing in line with the 15 billion national tree-growing goal and clean-up activities.
