NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has stepped up efforts to transition to a circular economy following high-level talks between the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and private sector players aimed at shaping a national framework for sustainable production and waste management.
The meeting, held Monday, brought together officials from government and a delegation from the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), led by circular economy and climate change expert Kinyanjui Koimbori.
Environment Principal Secretary Festus Ng’eno said the transition is anchored in the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and the ministry’s Strategic Plan 2023–2027.
He noted that circular economy principles are central to addressing mounting environmental challenges while unlocking new economic opportunities.
“Adopting circular approaches will help tackle pollution and waste while creating jobs and attracting green investment,” Ng’eno said.
At the centre of the discussions is the proposed Circular Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan (CESIP), a framework designed to shift Kenya from the traditional “take-make-dispose” model to a system focused on resource efficiency and waste minimisation.
According to KEPSA, the strategy will be developed over a seven-month period from April to November 2026, with technical support from the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra through the European Circular Economy Resource Centre.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with Intellecap Advisory Services and is expected to harmonise policies across key sectors including plastics, agriculture, textiles, electronics and construction.
Koimbori said the plan will provide a coordinated national roadmap aligning stakeholders across government, business, academia and civil society.
Ng’eno called for inclusive stakeholder engagement, urging the involvement of the Council of Governors to ensure county governments contribute to the process.
He also directed the ministry’s Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) team to support the initiative, citing their experience in global negotiations such as the plastics treaty and chemicals management frameworks.
The Principal Secretary underscored the importance of implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, saying they will strengthen waste management systems while promoting recycling, value addition and local manufacturing.
The CESIP will be developed through four phases—inception, situational analysis, stakeholder engagement and strategy formulation—with participation expected from more than 110 stakeholders.
