Photo Caption: Stakeholders pose for a photo during the KEPRO Media Breakfast in Nairobi on September 9, 2026.
NAIROBI, September 9, 2026 – The Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organization (KEPRO) has called for stronger collaboration among government, manufacturers, consumers, recyclers and the media to turn growing awareness on responsible waste management into measurable action.
Speaking during a KEPRO Media Breakfast in Nairobi held under the theme, “Shifting Mindsets, Driving Action: Communication as a Catalyst for Kenya’s Circular Economy,” KEPRO Chief Executive Officer James Odongo said the media plays a critical role in shaping public perceptions on environmental issues and promoting responsible behaviour.
“We fundamentally believe that the media plays quite a critical role in shaping perceptions around certain topical issues within our society. The media has this opportunity because a story can change what people know, but the right story can change what people do,” said Odongo.
Odongo said KEPRO was seeking to move the conversation from awareness to meaningful action, urging media practitioners to proactively champion environmental stewardship through effective storytelling.
He said Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) was still relatively new in Kenya despite the enactment of the Sustainable Waste Management Act in 2022 and the EPR Regulations in 2024.
He said KEPRO currently represented about 1,600 brands, had partnered with all 47 counties and established active collection sites in 34 counties through recyclers.
Odongo noted that producer compliance had continued to grow, although challenges remained, including limited data, high recycling costs, problematic packaging materials and inadequate integration of informal waste actors into formal EPR systems.
He said Kenya had made significant progress in implementing EPR compared to other African countries, but rated the implementation at about six out of 10, saying more effort was needed to address gaps in infrastructure, coordination and compliance.
On the role of counties, Christine Mwende Kivuva, Assistant Director, Environmental Monitoring, Compliance and Enforcement at Nairobi City County Government, said devolution had created an opportunity for counties to work closely with stakeholders to improve waste management.
“Waste management is the responsibility of all of us, from the generators, from the producers, and everyone,” said Kivuva, adding that Nairobi’s legal framework required all actors in the waste value chain to contribute towards keeping the city clean and green.
On manufacturers’ response to EPR, Nancy Murithi, Green Growth and Climate Change Officer at the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), said manufacturers were increasingly embracing the regulations and joining Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs).
“Manufacturers have for a long time been environmentally conscious. They understand that they need to have a thriving environment for them to continue with business as usual,” said Murithi.
She said manufacturers were also adopting eco-design principles to reduce waste from the design stage and viewed sustainable production as both an environmental responsibility and a business opportunity.
Murithi, however, noted that manufacturers were at different stages of compliance, with sectors such as food and beverages showing stronger uptake due to consumer expectations and the need to demonstrate environmental responsibility.
On EPR financing, Richard Kainikia, Secretary General of the Kenya Association of Waste Recyclers (KAWR), called for a balanced approach that would ensure producers could meet their environmental obligations without undermining their financial sustainability.
“Waste is material to us. It is a genuine business that relies on supply and distribution just like any other business,” said Kainikia, stressing that circular economy begins when someone identifies value in waste.
He urged consumers to separate waste at source and keep recyclable materials uncontaminated, saying this increases their value and improves recovery.
The Stakeholders also noted the need to recognise and integrate waste reclaimers into formal systems, improve recycling infrastructure and strengthen coordination between counties and PROs.
The breakfast followed the conclusion of KEPRO’s Rada Safi Campaign, which used billboards, matatu branding, television, radio, digital platforms and public engagement to promote responsible waste management and waste separation.
KEPRO said the campaign had demonstrated that awareness alone was insufficient, with lasting change requiring behaviour change, supportive infrastructure and coordinated action.
The organisation will take the conversation forward through the 4th KEPRO Annual Circular Packaging Conference (KACPC IV) scheduled for October 2, 2026, at Hyatt Regency Nairobi, Westlands, under the theme, “Sustainable Packaging for a Resilient Future: Innovation. Accountability. Impact.”
