Wamuzi News Ke
The Senate has taken a decisive step in confronting one of Kenya’s fastest-growing environmental threats: electronic waste. A newly proposed bill now before Parliament seeks to impose stringent penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment, on individuals and businesses involved in the illegal disposal of e-waste.
The legislation, which could mark a turning point in how the country handles its mounting digital pollution, outlines fines of up to KSh 1 million or six months in jail for offenders who recklessly dump or burn discarded electronic materials such as phones, computers, TVs, and batteries. The bill also empowers authorities to seize unregistered imports and compel producers to fund safe disposal or take back their e-waste.
A Crisis Reaching Boiling Point
Kenya currently produces more than 50,000 tonnes of e-waste annually, most of which ends up in open dumps, rivers, or behind informal recycling markets. Without proper treatment, this waste leaches hazardous substances like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic into the environment—posing grave risks to public health and ecosystems.
Environmental agencies have long sounded the alarm, but until now, enforcement has been weak and disjointed.
“This is no longer a future problem. It is an immediate danger,” warned one senator backing the bill. “Our health, soil, and water are being poisoned in silence.”
Key Provisions in the Bill
- Criminal Penalties: Illegal disposal could land violators in jail for up to half a year, along with fines reaching KSh 1 million.
- EPR Compliance: Companies must now register their products under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system and participate in financing proper disposal methods.
- Mandatory Take-Back and Recycling: Producers may be forced to re-export unregulated e-waste or pay for its safe destruction in Kenya.
- Anti-Cherry-Picking Clause: To prevent companies from only collecting high-value parts, the bill mandates full-cycle recycling—including cables, batteries, and low-value components.
Enforcement Powers Boosted
Under the bill, authorities such as NEMA and licensed waste handlers will have the mandate to monitor, investigate, and prosecute offenders with full legal backing. For years, the country has suffered from a regulatory vacuum, where informal waste collectors handled the bulk of e-waste with no safety standards.
This new legal framework is expected to close loopholes that allowed illegal dumping and unregulated imports to flourish.
Mixed Reactions from Industry
While environmentalists have hailed the bill as long overdue, sections of the private sector are wary. Some tech importers argue that the bill could increase operating costs, while others fear it could discourage innovation. However, lawmakers insist that sustainability must become part of business models going forward.
“Profit cannot come at the cost of people’s lives and poisoned rivers,” a Senate committee member retorted.
A Wake-Up Call for the Public
Kenyans have been urged to take the issue seriously and stop discarding gadgets in dustbins, ditches, or through unlicensed collectors. The government plans to launch a public education campaign on safe disposal and expand certified drop-off points for e-waste across counties.
What’s Next?
- The bill is now awaiting debate in the National Assembly.
- A national e-waste registry could be rolled out if the bill is passed.
- Compliance inspections for major tech and electronics companies are expected to begin later this year.
