National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)

World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June and encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment. It is supported by many non-governmental organizations, businesses, government entities, and represents the primary United Nations outreach day supporting the environment.

2023 is the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day.

Over the past five decades, the day has grown to be one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach. Tens of millions of people take part along with governments, companies, cities and community organizations.

This year we spotlight solutions to plastic pollution. Stay tuned to find out how you can #BeatPlasticPollution.

The national celebrations will be held as follows;

Venue: Nakuru National Park, Nakuru county

Date: 5th June, 2023

Theme: Solutions to Plastic Pollution

NEMA received a prestigious award under the United Nations Persons of the year (2022) category, in recognition of her effort in promoting and safeguarding the environment in Kenya and vehemently working towards enforcement of the plastic bags ban.

The ban on plastic carrier bags was a key player in working towards the historic plastic resolution adopted by UN members states in March 2022 and was hailed as the biggest moment for the environment since the Paris Agreement.

NEMA becomes the first national institution to scoop the UN persons of the year award. The award was received by the Director General, Mamo B. Mamo, EBS accompanied by the Chairman, Eric Mungai, Board members and management team. The ceremony was held at UN Complex, Gigiri, Nairobi on 24^th October 2022.

Speaking at the event, the DG noted that the recognition of the Authority by the United Nations in its effort to implement and enforce the plastic ban since 2017 is a milestone towards achieving a clean and healthy environment. He added that the Authority has continuously enforced the ban by working with 47 County Governments. He remarked that the Authority has gazetted over 200 environmental inspectors in the Counties to support with the enforcement actions.

“As NEMA family we feel honored as an institution to receive this award. This award gives us the motivation we need to continue inventing new ways of making our environment clean and healthy. This award is for all our stakeholders, our partners and indeed the Kenyans citizens whose lives we strive to improve,” Mamo said.

“The problem of plastic pollution is cross boundary and cross-cutting, and it requires systemic solutions covering policy, technology, management, financing, knowledge and research, awareness raising and behaviour change,” the DG said. He rationalized that the main challenge is the unwillingness of the public to desist from the using the bags although the ban has had a tremendous change in Kenyans attitude towards the bags.

The NEMA Chairman, Eric Mungai asked the neighbouring countries to also ban the plastic bags. He pointed out that the Authority has experienced challenges with influx of the illegal plastic bags into Kenyan markets through the porous borders.

He warned that the enforcement of the ban on importation, manufacture and use of the banned bags is active and those violating the law will be arrested and prosecuted.

The National Environment Management Authority will work with various state and non state actors to introduce national monthly cleanups in the 47 Counties to foster a clean and healthy environment, NEMA Chairman, Eric Mungai has said.

The Chairman stated that he will seek the support of the President for the initiative to achieve the desired outcome all over the country.

The Chairman said this during the celebrations of World cleanup day and international coastal cleanup day held today at Absa grounds Diani, Kwale County.

"Every day is a clean up. Do not dump your waste and expect someone to collect it," Mungai pointed out. He urged Kenyans to take the challenge and keep their environment clean.

The Chair alluded to the fact that every single person’s action can make a difference and that we can change our mind set and consumer habits and avoid, for example the single use plastic products or encourage waste separation at source and promote recycling. It is to make this happen for the benefit of ourselves, for the future generations and for our planet.

The event was also attended by Lady justice Addraya Dena, Kwale Environment and Land (ELC) Court. The Environment and Lands Court joined hands with NEMA to celebrate 10 years since it was established in 2012. According to Justice Dena, the community should embrace the legal system to address environment and land issues instead of taking law into their own hands.

He postulated that its critical for the people to regard court issues and document with the seeiousness it deserves. She noted that some people ignored courts qhen served with court orders only to lament later when the judgement doesn't favor them. He stated that locals should seek help in courts when faced with such environmental issues. During the ELC@10, 3,700 trees were planted within Kwale County to mark the occasion.

The Director General, NEMA Mamo B. Mamo remarked that despite having robust environmental laws in Kenya, we can do better if all of us take action and protect the environment to ehnance compliance to the such laws and regulations. He noted that taking care of the environment is a collective effort.

He clarified that despite waste management hacing been devolved since 2013, the Authority continues to work with the 47 County governments to build their capacity to handle waste.

Mamo highlighted some of the laws that NEMA has put in place in management of waste. This includes; National Solid Waste management strategy, National Marine Litter Action Plan, launched during UNEA 5•2, Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2021 that emphasis on circular economy and cleaner production.

World Clean up day and the International Coastal Cleanup Day national celebrations are two events held over the course of a 24-hour period on the 3rd saturday of september every year with a common objective of undertaking important events aimed at addressing the global waste management problem. these important events unite millions of people in different countries globally to think, review and address waste management policies and challenges affecting them.

This year’s theme is “Sustainable Waste Management for a Clean and Healthy Environment” and the slogan “It starts with Me”.

During the cleanup today, 1,200 kgs of solid waste was collected.

The celebrations were also attended by officials from @KenyaJudiciary, @KwaleCounty, Kenya Forestry Research Institute Kenya Forest Service Mazingira Na Misitu @kemfri WWF-Kenya

The 12th Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) meeting kicked off on 28th November 2022 at Kenyatta University.

This is the second time Kenya is hosting the regional RCE meeting. Kenya hosted the 8th Global RCE conference in November 2013 and 6th African RCE Conference in August, 2016.

Both conferences brought together a wide variety of stakeholders from around the Globe – from cities, communities, governments, industry, international organizations, and academia to discuss, debate and launch activities that reinforce the fundamental role that education plays in achieving a sustainable future for all.

This year, the theme is "Role of African RCEs in Climate Action".

Kenya has the highest number of RCEs in Africa so far we have 9 registered, all fully recognized by the United Nations University (UNU) this are; Greater Nairobi- our Host, Kakamega Western, Mau complex ecosystem, Greater Pwani, North Rift, Nyanza, Upper Eastern, Central Kenya and South Rift.

All the RCEs are hosted by our universities and they focus on specific areas of concern in the sustainable development space. However, all have a common focus on climate change.

Today's opening ceremony, was graced by Dr. Pacifica Ogolla, who repsented Environment and Forestry CS Hon. Soipan Tuya who was the chief guest, Vice Chancellor Kenyatta University, NEMA Chairman, Eric Mungai and Director General, Mamo B. Mamo also graced the event among other dignitaries from Kenya and global RCE networks.

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry stated that the 3-day African RCE conference will provide RCEs with a platform to discuss how to further strengthen and engage with National and County governments to focus on RCE activities on climate change and set the agenda for future action to mitigate and adapt to climate change and protect our environment.

She added that the concern for the environmental crisis and more climate change is no longer confined to multilateral institutions or the non-governmental sector. It has become a responsibility of all.

In the context of these interlinked global risks, the role of RCEs in Africa in sharing best practices and promoting innovations to address climate change impacts has become more important than ever before. Equally important is the role of scientific research by our universities in finding innovative solutions to the existential challenges facing mankind.

"Climate change is a daily and dreadful event that faces us. We need to collectively act on climate change to turn the tides. The University has educational programs to educate the learners on climate chage issues," Prof. Paul Wainaina, Vice Chancellor Kenyatta University said.

An RCE is a network of existing formal, non-formal and informal education organisations, mobilised to deliver education for sustainable development (ESD) to local and regional communities.

A network of RCEs worldwide will constitute the Global Learning Space for Sustainable Development. RCEs aspire to achieve the goals of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development(link is external) (DESD, 2005-2014), by translating its global objectives into the context of the local communities in which they operate.

There are currently 127 recognized RCEs worldwide.

An adaptation village is a systematic support to communities that aims at training, technology transfer and skills development for purposes of driving climate change resilience at community level.

The system enables the communities to cope with emerging trends implicated by climate change.

NEMA has established 50 Adaptation Villages in 14 Counties spread across the country. Each of the Counties has one or more programme which are implemented by each of the ten executing entities.

The Counties includes; Embu, Garissa, Kajiado, Kilifi, Homabay, Kitui, Kisumu, Kwale, Laikipia, Machakos, Makueni, Marsabit, Muranga, Taita Taveta and Wajir

An adaptation village consists of the following; a salarised borehole, elevated water tanks, water kiosk, sanitation block, community training hall and a demonstration site.

The village acts as a centre for transfer of knowledge and expertise to the community to help them adapt to climate change.

The Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary, Keriako Tobiko led an inspection exercise in one of the adaptation villages in Mashuuru, Kajiado County.

CS Tobiko urged the locals to prioritize environmental protection and integrate it into their 'maasai' culture. He opined that environmental degradation has been an issue in the larger Kajiado County and the communities need to take charge of their environment.

Speaking during the inspection exercise, NEMA Chairman, Eric Mungai stated that NEMA will build the capacity of the community around the Adaptation Village in Mashuuru to enable them learn from other successful projects countrywide and improve their livelihoods through integration of pastoralism and farming.

The NEMA Director General, Mamo B. Mamo was represented by the NIE Coordinator, Wangare Kirumba who stated that the Authority has established 50 Adaptation Villages in 14 Counties in Kenya through adaptation fund program.

"The projects are not only about water provision but also knowledge transfer on how to adapt to climate change by improving communities' livelihoods," NIE Coordinator Wangare Kirumba.

The borehole drilled at Mashuuru has a capacity to produce 24 cubic meters of water that is sufficient for the locals needs. The water together with other infrastructure of the project will enable the locals to water their animals as well as undertake farming.

Embu Green Point

World Environment Day 2023

NEMA nominated for the UN Person of the year 2022 award

NEMA To Introduce Monthly National Cleanups

12th African RCE Regional Meeting

Nema Establishes 50 Adaptation Villages

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