Nairobi: The 10th Annual Circular Economy Conference and No Waste Festival has officially commenced in Nairobi, marking a decade of efforts to accelerate Kenya’s transition to a regenerative circular economy.
According to Kenya News Agency, the event is co-hosted by Sustainable Inclusive Business Kenya (SIB-K) alongside the Kenya Plastics Pact (KPP), the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Kenya. The conference is powered by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Kenya and supported by a coalition of strategic partners. The theme, ‘Reimagine: Looking Back into the Future’, brought together over 300 delegates, including policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and youth, to focus on ‘Circularity in Action’.
In the opening session, high-level addresses highlighted the urgency and opportunity of circularity for Kenya’s economic resilience and environmental health. Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno emphasized that a circular economy is essential for Kenya’s national development goals, aiming to redefine growth by minimizing waste and pollution, extending product life cycles, and regenerating natural systems.
Dr. Ng’eno pointed out that Kenya’s current linear economic model is resource-intensive and unsustainable, exposing the country to external shocks like global oil price fluctuations and climate variability. He reported that with rapid urbanization and a growing population, Kenya generates approximately 27,500 tonnes of waste daily, with 60 percent improperly managed, leading to environmental degradation.
To address these challenges, Dr. Ng’eno revealed that the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry is spearheading a shift from a linear to a circular economic model, integrating circularity into the national development plan. He announced plans to develop a comprehensive circular economy strategy within the financial year, transforming value chains and promoting waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and resource efficiency. This strategy aims to foster green investments, create jobs, and encourage participation from youth and women.
Dr. Ng’eno stressed that a unified national framework would ensure policy coherence and enhance coordination across sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, energy, and tourism. He asserted that by unlocking potential in these sectors, Kenya could drive innovation, increase value addition, and develop a robust domestic industry.
The PS also highlighted the economic benefits of a circular economy, including reducing dependence on imports and enhancing supply chain resilience. By fostering circular production, especially among SMEs and manufacturers, productivity and competitiveness would increase. This strategic shift would position Kenya as a regional leader in sustainable trade and industry, opening new opportunities in green finance, carbon markets, and climate investment.
Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) CEO Carole Kariuki emphasized the conference’s role as a catalyst for change over the past decade. She noted that the circular economy has evolved from theory to practice, driving innovation and strengthening manufacturing. Kariuki highlighted the rise of circular pioneers in Kenya, including startups and innovators transforming waste into industry inputs.
Kariuki also disclosed that the Kenya Plastics Pact has set an ambitious roadmap to 2030, including eliminating problematic plastics and increasing recycling rates. KEPSA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with County Regional Economic Blocs to foster private-sector collaboration and build circular ecosystems across counties.
