NEMA Hosts Public Engagement Forum on New E-Waste and Environmental Assessment Regulations
Ensuring such guidelines are informed by expert inputs as well as community experiences, they said, will ensure successful implementation.
He urged citizens to take advantage of the upcoming sessions to contribute meaningfully to the process. Photo/Courtesy.
By Ruth Sang
In this regard, the National Environment Management Authority, through its Managing Director Mamo B. Mamo, has heightened efforts toward engaging Kenyans in proposing new environmental policies with the launch of public consultations for two major draft regulations-the Electrical and Electronic Waste Management Regulations, 2025, and the Environmental Strategic Assessment, Integrated Impact Assessment and Audit Regulations, 2025.
NEMA held a major public participation forum at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology last Friday in Nyeri County. The meeting was held as per the requirement of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act, Cap 387, which provides for public involvement in the formulation of policies and laws on the environment. Students, environmental practitioners, community representatives, and the general public were given an opportunity to present their views, make queries, and submit observations on areas requiring improvement in the draft proposals.
NEMA officials who spoke at the gathering pointed out that public involvement was fundamental in the drafting of legislation that would, among other things, afford sufficient protection to Kenya’s environment. They explained that electronic waste management, which is growing rapidly on account of increased digitalization and rise in consumption of electronic gadgets, needs clear, practical, and enforceable regulations. Ensuring such guidelines are informed by expert inputs as well as community experiences, they said, will ensure successful implementation.
Issues thrown up at the forum ranged from methods of safe disposal of electronic devices and enhancing producer responsibility and waste collection systems, to the need for public awareness on the dangers posed by improper e-waste disposal. Also, discussions on environmental impact assessments pointed at lapses in present practices and emphasized the modernization of the regulatory framework in line with global standards for sustainability.
Managing Director Mamo B. Mamo said that the authority was committed to ensuring the new regulations reflected realities on the ground. “The views and submissions gathered through these forums are central to developing regulations that are realistic, enforceable, and responsive to Kenya’s environmental priorities,” he added. He urged citizens to take advantage of the upcoming sessions to contribute meaningfully to the process.
NEMA has scheduled similar public participation workshops in various counties to ensure that there is extensive national representation. Consultations have been decentralized so that communities around different regions get a chance to raise their concerns and ideas. This ensures that no voice is left out as the country navigates through emerging environmental challenges. In this way, NEMA reinforces its commitment to inclusive and open environmental governance. In inviting the public to take part in this process, the Authority aims at engendering a shared sense of responsibility among Kenyans for the protection of natural resources for present and future generations.
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