Kenya celebrated National Mazingira Day on Saturday, October 10, 2026, with official national events hosted in Trans Nzoia County (at Konoin Primary School in Shikendu and the Kenya Seed Company’s Elgon Downs Farm in Endebess).
The event presided over by His Excellency President Dr. William Samoei Ruto.
CLEANUP ACTIVITIES
Trans Nzoia County generates more than 108 tonnes of waste weekly, approximately 70 per cent of which is organic. This presents opportunities for composting, recycling and other resource recovery initiatives that can reduce the amount of waste sent to disposal sites while creating economic opportunities.
The exercise brought together government agencies, county government representatives, environmental stakeholders and private sector players, including Robert Wamalwa, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Environment, Water and Climate Change. Their participation underscored the importance of collaboration between national and county governments, businesses and communities in addressing waste management challenges and protecting the environment.
Dr. Mamo B Mamo EBS Director General, NEMA reaffirmed Authority’s commitment to strengthening environmental compliance, raising public awareness and working with stakeholders to prevent pollution and promote sustainable waste management.
This Mazingira Day, Nema Kenya calls on every Kenyan to move beyond cleaning up for a day and take responsibility for keeping the environment clean every day. Together, we can build a cleaner, greener and healthier Kenya.
Speaking during the buildup activities at Kitale Town, Trans Nzoia County, NEMA called on Kenyans to take personal responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean, properly sorting waste and preventing pollution.
Speaking on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa, NEMA Chairman, Emilio Mugo emphasised that lasting environmental protection requires consistent action, including proper waste disposal, segregation at source, reuse and recycling.
Environment Secretary Dr. Selly Kimosop representing Principal Secretary of Environment Dr. Eng. Festus K Ng’eno, MIEK, CBS, commended Kitale residents for maintaining high standards of cleanliness in the Central Business District. She urged residents to sustain the efforts by extending good waste management practices to their homes, schools, workplaces and institutions.
Dr.Selly Kimosop highlighted the role of the Sustainable Waste Management Act and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework in promoting waste prevention, recycling, resource recovery and green job creation. She also recognised waste pickers for their contribution to waste recovery and environmental sustainability
WASTE SEGREGATION AND MANAGEMENT
NEMA led by the Chairman Emilio Mugo and Director-General Dr. Mamo B. Mamo, EBS, presented a certificate of ownership of the Ecosort Buy-Back Centre to the local community in Endebbes. The presentation was done by His Excellency President William Ruto.
The handover took place during the Mazingira Day celebrations in Endebes, Trans Nzoia Ciunty marks a significant step towards community-led environmental conservation, sustainable waste management and the creation of green livelihoods.
The Ecosort Buy-Back Centre is part of a national circular economy initiative supported through a partnership between the United Nations Development Programme – UNDP and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). The initiative seeks to transform waste into valuable resources, create green jobs and strengthen climate resilience.
As Kenya’s lead environmental regulator, NEMA plays a central role in promoting responsible waste management, resource recovery and the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which encourages producers to take responsibility for the waste generated by their products.
Each community-owned buy-back centre is expected to support approximately 105 green jobs while providing market opportunities for waste pickers and other waste suppliers.
Through such initiatives, NEMA continues to advance Kenya’s transition to a circular economy, where waste is recognised as a resource and environmental sustainability goes hand in hand with economic empowerment.
