Nairobi: The government and private sector players have renewed their commitment to the development of the Circular Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan (CESIP), a national framework aimed at shifting Kenya from the traditional linear ‘take-make-dispose’ model to a more sustainable system that maximises resource efficiency and minimises waste. Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary Dr Festus Ng’eno, on Monday hosted a delegation from the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) led by Dr Jackson Koimbori during a courtesy call focused on advancing Kenya’s transition to a circular economy.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr Ng’eno welcomed the collaboration, noting that circular economy principles are a key pillar under the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and the Ministry’s Strategic Plan 2023-2027. He emphasised that adopting circular approaches will not only address environmental challenges such as pollution and waste management but also unlock economic opportunities, including job creation and green investment.
The KEPSA team briefed the Principal Secretary on the CESIP development process, which will be implemented over a seven-month period from April to November 2026. The initiative is being supported technically by the Finnish Innovation Fund (Sitra) through the European Circular Economy Resource Centre, with KEPSA working in consortium with Intellecap Advisory Services.
According to Dr Koimbori, the strategy will provide a coordinated national roadmap consolidating existing policies and aligning efforts across sectors such as plastics, agriculture, textiles, electronics, and construction areas identified for their high resource intensity and potential for circular innovation. During the discussions, Dr Ng’eno called for a more inclusive and expedited approach to stakeholder engagement. He urged the team to leverage the Council of Governors (CoG) to gather views from county governments and ensure timely input from devolved units.
He further encouraged the use of additional engagement platforms, including virtual platforms, to broaden participation and accelerate the process. The Principal Secretary also directed that the Ministry’s Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) team be actively involved in the process, particularly those who participated in negotiations on the global plastics treaty and the science-policy panel on chemicals and waste, to enrich the strategy with international best practices and insights.
Dr Ng’eno underscored the critical role of Kenya’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations, noting that effective implementation will not only improve waste management but also stimulate local manufacturing by promoting recycling, value addition, and sustainable production systems. The CESIP will be developed through four key phases: inception, situational analysis, stakeholder engagement, and strategy formulation, with participation expected from over 110 stakeholders across government, private sector, academia, and civil society.
Stakeholders committed to deliver a practical, action-oriented strategy that will accelerate Kenya’s transition to a circular economy while supporting climate action, sustainable production, and long-term economic resilience.
