Kenya Champions E-Waste Management at Regional Conference.

Kenya Champions E-Waste Management at Regional Conference.

Eng. John Tanui, the Principal Secretary ICT and Digital Economy as the chief guest during the E- waste managent at regional conference in Nairobi.

By MAXIMILLA WAFULA, 

The County Diary News Reporter.

Kenya has emerged as a leader in championing e-waste management in Africa, with the Principal Secretary (PS) for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, John Tanui, calling for urgent and coordinated action to address the growing crisis.

Speaking at the 7th East African Communication Organisation (EACO) Regional Conference on Sustainable E-Waste Management in Nairobi on Monday, Tanui emphasised the need for strong policies, regional cooperation, and private-sector involvement in tackling e-waste challenges.

Tanui painted a grim picture of the situation, citing global statistics that indicate Africa lags behind in formal e-waste management. “According to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2024, only one per cent of e-waste in Africa is formally collected and recycled, which is unacceptable, and we must change it,” he stated. He further warned that with increasing mobile phone penetration and rising sales of electronic goods, e-waste would continue to grow unless urgent measures were implemented.

Despite these challenges, Tanui commended Kenya’s efforts in developing a robust regulatory framework for e-waste management, positioning the country as a leader in policy and action. He highlighted the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation, which mandates manufacturers to take responsibility for the disposal of their products. “Kenya is among the few African countries that have enacted laws compelling producers to manage e-waste responsibly, a step in the right direction,” he reiterated.

The PS also praised public-private partnerships such as those with the WE Centre, which refurbishes and donates ICT devices for reuse while also recycling e-waste. “Collaboration between governments, civil society, and businesses is key to solving the e-waste problem,” he noted.

While acknowledging Kenya’s progress, Tanui stressed that e-waste management requires harmonised efforts across East Africa. He challenged regional leaders to develop policies, set targets, and monitor progress in collection and recycling. Citing projections that global e-waste will reach 82 billion kilogrammes by 2030, he called on stakeholders to rethink their strategies. “Without action, Africa will bear the brunt of poor disposal practices, leading to environmental and health hazards,” he warned.

Further, the PS urged all stakeholders to take responsibility by investing in e-waste management, setting ambitious targets, and ensuring compliance across the board. He observed that the 7th EACO Regional Conference on Sustainable E-Waste Management is setting the stage for critical discussions on tackling one of Africa’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Tanui urged East African nations to shift from being mere consumers of electronic devices to producers as a strategy for managing e-waste. He called for urgent investment in local manufacturing and stronger e-waste management policies. “With 67 million phones in use in Kenya and millions of devices reaching their end of life each year, Africa must invest in local electronics production and semiconductor technology to control the entire life cycle of electronic products,” he said.

Additionally, he challenged the region to develop homegrown digital platforms and software instead of relying on global tech giants. “What percentage of the digital platforms and software we use are developed locally?” he posed, urging regulators to create policies that support local innovation.

Moreover, Tanui called on EACO to establish subcommittees focused on electronic production, software development, and digital platform growth to strengthen East Africa’s digital ecosystem. His call to action sets the tone for a sustainable approach to e-waste management in the region, reinforcing Kenya’s position at the forefront of these efforts.

Edited By PATRICK KIMANZI 

END/