NEMA Director General Calls for Strengthened Circular Economy Practices at KEPSA Conference

 

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Director General, Dr. Mamo B. Mamo, EBS, today joined policymakers, private-sector players and sustainability advocates at the 10th KEPSA Circular Economy Conference, held at the Nairobi Street Kitchen in Westlands, Nairobi County.

The high-level forum was presided over by the Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Eng. Festus K. Ng’eno, and organised by the KEPSA Foundation in partnership with Sustainable Inclusive Business Kenya (SIB-K). This year’s conference ran under the theme “Reimagining Waste: Driving Kenya’s Transition to a Circular and Climate-Resilient Economy.”

The convening brought together stakeholders from government, industry, and civil society to review the status of the country’s waste management systems, promote green entrepreneurship, and explore circular economy solutions that can accelerate Kenya’s shift toward sustainable production and consumption. Key discussions also focused on fostering partnerships to support behavioural change and strengthening the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks.

In his remarks, Dr. Mamo underscored the urgency of embracing circularity as a national priority.

“A circular and green economy is essential for transitioning our country from a linear to a sustainable economic model,” he stated.

He called on all waste generators—households, businesses, and institutions—to take accountability for the waste they produce by adopting proper segregation practices in accordance with the national colour-coded waste bin system. Dr. Mamo further emphasized that EPR must become a shared responsibility among producers and consumers to safeguard the constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment.

“Extended Producer Responsibility, which places an obligation on producers for the full lifecycle of their products, should be ingrained in our culture if we are to achieve long-term environmental protection,” he remarked.

The conference concluded with a renewed commitment from stakeholders to deepen collaboration, strengthen waste policies and infrastructure, and support innovative solutions that will propel Kenya toward a circular, climate-resilient future.