Kenya Still at Risk Despite UN Plastics Nod: Greenpeace

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Nairobi, 23 February 2021 — In the lead up to the UN summit being held in Nairobi, UNEP   has named Kenya as an emerging leader in the fight against plastic pollution and among the first countries in East Africa to sign the Clean Seas initiative. Responding to these developments, Greenpeace Africa senior Political Advisor Fredrick Njehu has said: 

“It is encouraging that Kenya's environmental stewardship has been acknowledged worldwide. Both officials and ordinary citizens have fought against the menace that single-use plastic has become in Africa. However, the threats to our country's efforts remain real. 

“President Biden has put on hold any new free trade agreement negotiations with our government, which may have opened the floodgates to plastic imports if the American Chemistry Council (ACC) lobbying proved successful. But, the deal is not completely off the table as it should be. 

"Both countries have a joint responsibility to make trade right for the people and the planet, and not just free for corporations. Any trade and investment agreement between the two countries must exclude any imports of plastic waste into East Africa. 

“Kenya has invested heavily in both policy regulations and law enforcement to win the fight against plastic pollution. NEMA recently launched a new wave of surveillance to heighten checks on the outlawed plastic bags across the country. Our government must be firm and must stay true to its efforts against the plastic pollution crisis which is exacerbating climate emergencies."

Devoted Youth Foundation volunteers cart single-use plastic waste collected from Nairobi River. Credit: Greenpeace

Devoted Youth Foundation volunteers cart single-use plastic waste collected from Nairobi River. Credit: Greenpeace

Notes to Editor: 

  • Kenya banned the use, manufacture and importation of single-use plastic carrier bags for commercial and household packaging in 2017. That was preceded by the country’s decision to sign on to the Clean Seas initiative, making it one of the first African nations to commit to limiting plastic in its waterways. 

  • Last year, Greenpeace’s investigative journalism unit, Unearthed uncovered that the ACC wanted the United States government to insist that Kenya relax its existing plastic bans so that it could make Kenya a gateway to Africa for plastic trade – and then sell us recycling as a “false solution” to the environmental catastrophe it would cause.

  • The aforementioned exposé, published in the New York Times, blew open the relationship between the plastic and petrochemical industries. Plastic is made of oil therefore its production is contributing to the climate change crisis we face.

  • The Biden administration has indicated that addressing climate change sits high on their diplomatic agenda with Kenya, which is hopeful in ensuring that any trade deal between Kenya and the United States serves to protect the climate and people impacted by climate change. 

Media Contacts:

Hellen Dena, Communications and Story Manager, hdena@greenpeace.org, +254 717 104 144