Kenya is looking to step up its war on plastic pollution after high-level talks between Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa and the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) team in Geneva.
Dr. Barasa met GPAP’s Head of Growth and Impact, Ms. Roisin Greene, on the sidelines of the Fifth Resumed Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), where they discussed ways to speed up the shift to a circular economy and bring in fresh ideas to tackle plastic waste.
During the meeting, Ms. Greene confirmed that GPAP is planning to set up a presence in Kenya to help boost recycling and expand solutions that directly benefit local communities.
Dr. Barasa welcomed the announcement, saying it fits perfectly with Kenya’s priorities under the Kenya National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP).
She said the government is pushing for the establishment of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in counties across the country a move she believes will create green jobs, grow small businesses, and improve environmental health, all in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
She was accompanied by Environment Secretary Dr. Selly Kimosop, Director of Multilateral Environmental Agreements Ms. Linda Kosgei, and Deputy Director Ms. Mayiani Saino.
