NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya is taking a bold step toward revolutionizing its waste management sector with the appointment of Taka Taka Ni Mali (TTNM) as the country’s official ambassador to the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).
The announcement was made during the recently concluded ISWA 2024 Conference in South Africa. This move is set to open doors for Kenya to collaborate with international experts and introduce innovative, efficient waste management solutions.
Mary Ngechu, the founder of TTNM, highlighted the significance of this appointment as a chance for Kenya to elevate its waste management efforts by leveraging global expertise.
“Engaging with leaders at ISWA provides an invaluable opportunity to tackle waste challenges and transform waste into wealth for a sustainable future,” Ngechu remarked.
She also emphasized the role of technology in driving smarter decision-making through data collection and the implementation of essential infrastructure.
Kenya generates an estimated 22,000 tonnes of waste daily, with urban centers like Nairobi contributing a staggering 2,400 tonnes, according to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
However, only about 45-50pc of this waste is collected and properly managed, a shortfall largely attributed to inadequate infrastructure.
Despite progress in promoting proper waste practices, Kenya’s waste management sector remains largely unregulated.
Ngechu noted that this lack of oversight poses significant hurdles to the success of policies like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which seeks to ensure that producers take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, including disposal.
Waste management also presents a unique opportunity for job creation, particularly for Kenya’s growing population of unemployed youth.
East Africa Business Council CEO, Adrian Raphael Njau, emphasized the sector’s potential, saying, “Solid waste management provides a massive opportunity to bridge the unemployment gap if stakeholders can initiate structured systems for waste collection and recycling.”
Beyond Kenya’s borders, waste management remains a critical issue. The Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA) CEO, Henry Ochieng, stressed the importance of addressing waste problems on a regional scale.
“We recognize the severe impact it has on both the environment and the economy. Engaging with global leaders gives us the chance to adopt innovative techniques that can revolutionize the sector within the East African Community,” Ochieng stated.
The stakes are high as global municipal solid waste is projected to rise from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050, according to ISWA.
With TTNM’s new role as Kenya’s ambassador to ISWA, the future of waste management in the country is looking brighter. Collaborating with global experts, embracing innovative solutions, and pushing for stricter regulations could be the key to turning Kenya’s waste challenges into opportunities.
