GENEVA, Switzerland — Kenya has stepped up its global engagement on the management of chemicals, waste and pollution as it participates in high-level talks in Geneva aimed at strengthening the science–policy interface on environmental governance.
The Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Eng. Festus Ng’eno, on Monday, paid a courtesy call on Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Fancy Too, at the Kenyan Embassy in Switzerland.
The meeting comes as Dr Ng’eno leads Kenya’s delegation to the first plenary session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP), which runs from 2 to 6 February 2026 at the Geneva International Conference Centre.
During the engagement, the Principal Secretary reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation on the sound management of chemicals and waste, as well as addressing pollution across its entire lifecycle.
He underscored the importance of aligning global scientific evidence with national and regional policy priorities to support sustainable development, protect human health and safeguard ecosystems.
Dr Ng’eno said Kenya views the newly established ISP-CWP as a critical mechanism for advancing evidence-based environmental governance, particularly for developing countries that bear a disproportionate burden of pollution and hazardous waste despite contributing the least to global pollution levels.
The ISP-CWP is an independent intergovernmental body mandated to enhance the global science–policy interface on chemicals, waste and pollution.
It aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and policymaking by providing credible, policy-relevant scientific assessments to support informed decision-making at national, regional and global levels.
Ambassador Fancy Too reaffirmed Kenya’s strong support for multilateral environmental processes and highlighted the strategic role of Kenya’s Geneva Mission in advancing the country’s environmental and climate diplomacy.
She assured the delegation of the Mission’s full cooperation during the plenary session and related negotiations.
The meeting was also attended by Ambassador James Waweru from the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Linda Kosgei from the Ministry of Environment, Tobias Ogweno from Foreign Affairs, and other senior officials.
Kenya’s participation in the inaugural ISP-CWP plenary reflects its growing profile in global environmental governance and its commitment to science-driven solutions for chemicals management, waste reduction and pollution control, in line with national, regional and international environmental obligations.
