NEMA Urges Kenyans to Embrace Waste Management on World Cleanup Day

As the world celebrates World Cleanup Day on September 20, 2024, Mamo B. Mamo, Director General of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), has called on Kenyans to take waste management seriously. He has emphasized that effective waste management begins at the individual level, urging all citizens to participate actively in keeping their environments clean.

World Cleanup Day aims to raise awareness about the global waste crisis by mobilizing all sectors of society to engage in clean-up actions. “The essence of celebrating this global event is to elevate the environmental agenda both globally and within our country,” Mamo stated. “We need to sensitize the public on the importance of maintaining a clean, healthy, and secure environment.”

Mamo highlighted the government's commitment to creating a conducive legal and institutional framework that enables Kenyans to enjoy a clean environment.

“According to our Constitution, every Kenyan is entitled to a clean and secure environment. On this day, we encourage the public to take positive steps toward cleaning our surroundings, as waste management is everyone’s responsibility—not just that of the government or county authorities.”

He referred to the National Sustainable Waste Management Act of 2022, which aims to shift Kenya from a linear waste management model to a circular one. Mamo explained that NEMA is currently developing color codes for waste bins and bags to facilitate sorting waste at the point of generation.