Officials from the Nairobi City County and KEPRO flagging off of the World Environment Day 2026 Green Walk at City Hall.
NAIROBI, June 5, 2026 — The Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organisation (KEPRO) and Nairobi City County Government have called on residents to embrace responsible waste management and climate action as part of efforts to build a cleaner, greener and more sustainable city.
The call was made during World Environment Day celebrations held under the theme “Climate Action Through Sustainable Waste Management,” which brought together county officials, environmental stakeholders, development partners, recyclers, waste pickers and community groups to promote environmental stewardship and sustainable waste management practices.
Speaking during the event, Nairobi City County Director for Environment, Water and Sanitation Maureen Njeri said environmental conservation and climate action require collective responsibility from individuals, communities, institutions and governments.
“Today is not only a celebration, but also a reminder that the future of the environment depends on the actions we take collectively as individuals, institutions, communities and governments,” she said.
Njeri noted that Nairobi County remains committed to implementing the Nairobi Climate Action Plan, which seeks to build a climate-resilient, low-carbon, inclusive and sustainable city through initiatives such as integrated waste management, greening programmes, restoration of green spaces and protection of waterways.
“Climate action is not only about policies and meetings. It is about everyday choices that we make in our homes, schools, businesses and institutions,” she said.
She said the county government continues to implement key climate action initiatives, including sustainable waste management, tree planting programmes, flood mitigation measures and support for the ongoing Nairobi Rivers regeneration efforts.
Njeri warned that illegal dumping of waste, blockage of drainage systems and pollution of rivers continue to contribute to flooding and environmental degradation within the city.
“We must appreciate that illegal dumping, blocking of drainage systems, destruction of green spaces and pollution of rivers contribute immensely to flooding and other health risks,” she said.
She urged Nairobi residents to maintain cleanliness in estates, markets, roads, rivers and public spaces, noting that a clean city is healthier, more resilient and attractive to investors and tourists.
“A clean city is a healthy city, a resilient city and an attractive city for investment and tourism,” she added.
KEPRO CEO James Odongo takes part in a tree-planting exercise during World Environment Day 2026 activities in Kasarani aimed at promoting environmental stewardship and restoring green spaces.
KEPRO Chief Executive Officer James Odongo said proper waste management remains central to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Odongo said KEPRO, which represents about 1,400 brands, supports producers in meeting their obligations under the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022 through extended producer responsibility programmes.
“As KEPRO, we help producers meet their obligations under the law. We currently represent about 1,400 brands and have been supporting responsible waste management since 2021,” he said.
He observed that despite World Environment Day having been celebrated globally for more than five decades, environmental challenges continue to persist, underscoring the need for greater action from all stakeholders.
“Fifty-three years later, we are still talking about action. We must ask ourselves whether we are being fair to the environment. Every citizen has a role to play in ensuring a clean and healthy environment,” Odongo said.
He called on residents to embrace proper waste segregation by separating wet waste, recyclable materials and general waste at source.
“The first call we are making today is simple: put waste in a bin. More importantly, put waste in the right bin,” he said.
According to Odongo, households and institutions should separate waste into green bins for wet waste, blue bins for recyclable materials and black bins for general waste to support recycling and sustainable waste management efforts.
Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment Ibrahim Otieno urged residents to renew their commitment to environmental protection through sustainable practices and climate action.
“On this special day, let us renew our commitment to protecting our environment through sustainable practices, responsible waste management and climate action,” he said.
Otieno said collective efforts by citizens, government institutions, development partners and the private sector were essential in building a cleaner, greener and more resilient future for present and future generations.
The celebrations included a public awareness walk from City Hall to Jeevanjee Gardens before participants were transported to Kasarani for further community engagement activities, including a sustainable waste management green walk, environmental awareness campaigns and support for waste collection initiatives.
