The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) achieved a major milestone in its quest to enhance e-waste management in the country.
The Authority on 14th March, 2024 received the title for the plot it was allocated by the Konza Technopolis Development Authority. The delegation was led by the NEMA Chairman, Emilio Mugo and Director General, Mamo B. Mamo, EBS, Vice Chair, Ms. Sophia Matura and the project team.
The Konza team was led by the Chief Manager-Strategy, policy and Research, Stella Muhoro, who was representing the Konza Chief Executive Officer.
“Authority will be developing an e-waste demonstration pilot and a National Environmental Reference Laboratory with support from Global Environment Facility through the World Bank’s Africa Environmental Health and Pollution Management Project,” NEMA Chairman, Emilio Mugo said.
The Chairman added that the project is seeking to bring new approaches in e-waste management popularly known as circular economy which will indeed create major transformative change in the sustainable management of solid waste in Kenya thereby promoting environmental conservation and management.
The Director General echoed the Chairman sentiments that e-waste continues to be one of the major emerging solid waste streams and only sound management strategies will get us out of the challenge. He pointed out that e-waste will grow exponentially once Konza Technopolis City is up and running fully. The DG further postulated that Kenya generates 17,000 tonnes of e-waste annually. As a result, the e-waste facility at Konza will be a step to address the e-waste in the country.
The significance of the facilities to be developed at the NEMA site in Konza will help to advance sound management of e-waste. Generally, e-waste continues to be one of the major emerging solid waste streams and only sound management strategies will get us out of the challenge.
The team also planted trees around the NEMA plot at the Konza.