By Ebi Kesiena
President William Ruto has reiterated his dedication to combating plastic pollution, emphasizing its pivotal role in addressing climate change.
During the opening of the third session of the Inter-Governmental Negotiating Committee on Monday, President Ruto underscored Kenya’s proactive stance, highlighting significant steps taken to address plastic pollution.
He commended the country’s commitment, citing the 2017 ban on polythene bag manufacturing and usage, followed by a 2020 prohibition on single-use plastics in protected areas such as national parks, forests, and beaches.
President Ruto highlighted the ground-breaking Sustainable Waste Management Act enacted in July the previous year, positioning Kenya as the first nation globally to subject all products, including plastics, to Extended Producer Responsibility.
While acknowledging the need for more action, he invoked the principle of the hummingbird, championed by Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, urging incremental efforts towards the elimination of plastic pollution.
In March 2022, the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) initiated plans for an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, encompassing the marine environment. An intergovernmental committee, in its third session from November 13 to 19 at the UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, is developing this instrument, aiming for its completion by 2024.
Therefore, President Ruto called upon investors, multinational corporations, and technology companies to redirect strategic investments towards minimizing their plastic waste.
He urged producers and innovators to reconsider plastic products and packaging, encouraging the principles of reuse, refill, repair, and repurpose.
Additionally, he advocated exploring alternative options such as non-plastic substitutes and environmentally friendly plastic products.
Expressing an invitation to innovators to invest in Africa, President Ruto emphasized the continent’s abundant natural resources that could be harnessed through eco-friendly alternatives.
