NAKURU, Kenya — The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has begun a nationwide public participation exercise to gather views on two key draft regulations expected to reshape Kenya’s approach to environmental oversight.
The consultations, held under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) Cap 387, kicked off on Monday at Egerton University in Njoro, Nakuru County.
The public forum is focused on the draft Electrical and Electronic Waste Management Regulations, 2025, and the Environmental (Strategic Assessment, Integrated Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2025.
According to NEMA, the exercise aims to capture submissions from stakeholders and members of the public as required under EMCA’s public participation provisions.
Participants at the Nakuru forum include representatives from the Engineers and Environmental Institute of Kenya (EIK), institutions of higher learning, Nakuru County officials, e-waste recovery and recycling practitioners, community-based organisations, and members of the public.
The proposed e-waste regulations are expected to tighten oversight on electrical and electronic waste handling, expand producer responsibility, and strengthen recycling systems in response to Kenya’s rapidly growing digital and consumer electronics market.
The revised assessment and audit regulations will also update the framework guiding environmental impact assessments (EIA), strategic environmental assessments (SEA), and compliance audits.
NEMA confirmed that similar workshops will be convened across select counties to give Kenyans multiple opportunities to give feedback before the regulations are finalised.
