Kenyan Civil Society Calls for Bold African Unity on Ambitious Plastics Treaty

By John Kariuki

Kenya’s civil society organizations are urging African governments to take a strong and united position ahead of the fifth resumed session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC‑5.2) on the Global Plastics Treaty, scheduled to take place in Geneva from August 5 to 14.

The Kenyan Civil Society Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, speaking during a media breakfast organized by the Centre for Environmental Justice and Development (CEJAD) in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Foundation, stressed the need for an ambitious, legally binding treaty that safeguards human health and the environment throughout the entire plastic lifecycle.

“This is an opportunity for Africa to assert its position, protect its people, and shape an ambitious, legally binding treaty that delivers real, systemic change. Let this treaty reflect the lived realities of our people, not the boardroom interests of petrochemical companies as witnessed over the past negotiations,” said Griffins Ochieng, Executive Director of CEJAD.

The coalition emphasized that recycling alone cannot solve the plastic pollution crisis and called for decisive steps to reduce plastic production, eliminate toxic chemicals, and secure a just transition for waste pickers and informal workers. They also warned against Africa becoming a dumping ground for waste from the Global North or adopting polluting technologies such as incineration and waste‑to‑energy systems.

“Kenya’s single-use plastic ban showed that policy works, but real progress requires going beyond recycling to tackle the root cause: overproduction. A binding global treaty must shift us from managing plastic waste to ending plastic waste,” said Fredrick Njau, Programme Coordinator, Sustainable Development Programme, Heinrich Böll Foundation.

The coalition highlighted the health and social implications of plastic pollution, particularly its effects on women, girls, and marginalized communities, and called for women‑led innovation, Indigenous knowledge, and grassroots solutions to be prioritized in the treaty.

Waste pickers, represented by the Kenya National Waste Pickers Welfare Association, urged negotiators to adopt a Just Transition framework that protects their rights and guarantees fair wages and social protection.

The coalition outlined key demands, including binding global rules, reduced production of virgin plastics, elimination of toxic chemicals, strong financing based on the Polluter Pays Principle, inclusive decision‑making, and strict safeguards against industry interference.

“This treaty should not be shaped by corporate interests or fossil fuel agendas, but by the frontline communities who have long demanded change,” said Hellen Dena, Pan-African Plastic Project Lead at Greenpeace Africa.

The outcome of the Geneva negotiations is expected to define the future of global efforts to curb plastic pollution and ensure environmental and public health protections for generations to come.