The Republic of Kenya is located in the Eastern Africa region and has a population of about 47,5 million people (2019 Census) and an area of approximately 582,646 km². It is bordered by South Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Uganda to the west, Tanzania to the south and the Indian Ocean to the southeast. The capital City of Kenya is Nairobi, and the main languages are Swahili and English. The country has forty-seven (47) devolved units of governance (County Governments) with Counties being the administrative units headed by Governors who are elected within their areas of jurisdiction every five years. [MS6]

African Environmental Health and Pollution Management Project 
The African Environmental Health and Pollution Management Project is a five-year Global Environment Facility Sixth Framework funded project in five African countries notably; Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana, and Senegal with the World Bank as the Implementing Agency.

In Kenya, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is the executing agency, and the project’s main objective is to strengthen the institutional capacity to manage and regulate e-waste and related UPOPS in Kenya. The project is founded on the basis that electronic waste commonly referred to as e-waste is emerging as one of the most critical environmental challenges globally, regionally, and nationally. Currently, e-waste accumulation is reaching unsustainable levels, and owing to management challenges, they are becoming a major source of environmental pollution.

In Kenya, electronic waste is the fastest growing waste component, with an estimated 51,300 tons of electronic waste being generated annually. Owing to e-waste management challenges, e-waste is often mixed with other municipal waste and disposed of at open dumpsites where it is treated through open burning. This is a significant source of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), dioxins, furans, cadmium, beryllium, and lead which are released in the environment and can lead to severe human health and environmental hazards.

E-Waste Context in Kenya

A total of 7,907,695 t/year of solid waste is generated in Kenya by the 47 Counties and out of this, 7,775,618 t/yr (98%) is domestic waste while 132,077 t/yr (2%) is e-waste. Nairobi County generates 1,296, 398 t/yr (16%) of this waste

Baringo

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Kaprogonya	5,220.00	180.00	5,400.00	30

Bomet

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Bomet	4,900.00	100.00	5,000.00	36

Mandera

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Garbakhole	52,920.00	793.80	53,714.00	9

Nyamira

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Kemasare	108,481.00	4,548.72	113,030.00	46

Machakos

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Mitheu	388,000.00	5,827.40	393,827.00	16

Trans Zoia

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Machinjoni	36,500.00	720.66	37,221.00	26

Busia

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Alupe	43,488.00	10.00	43,498.00	40

Murang'a

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Karii and Kangema	102,200.00	154.39	102,354.00	21

Kitui

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Kalundu	20,842.80	522.12	21,365.00	15

Embu

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Kagunga	71,136.00	1,068.17	72,204.00	14

Uasin Gishu

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Kipkengo	70,000.00	1,050.00	71,050.00	27

Vihiga

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Ebuyangu	15,360.00	230.40	15,590.00	38

Kwale

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Mwabungo	30,806.00	2,784.47	33,590.00	2

Migori

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Isibania	301,549.00	4,523.64	306,073.00	44

Kilifi

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Mayungu - Malindi	90,000.00	10,004.52	100,005.00	3

Kirinyaga

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Kabatiro	74,844.00	757.75	75,602.00	20

Garissa

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Qhashin Qub	172,060.00	2,583.83	174,644.00	7

Samburu

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Maralal	3,552.00	10.00	3,562.00	25

Nairobi

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Dandora	1,277,500.00	18,898.41	1,296,398.00	47

Nandi

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Oyole	10,080.00	11.56	10,092.00	29

Homabay

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Isibania	305,740.00	4,590.45	310,330.00	43

Wajir

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Wajir	211,019.00	3,165.29	214,184.00	8

Lamu

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Kadahri	3,650.00	54.80	3,705.00	5

Mombasa

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Mwakirunge	314,280.00	4,680.45	318,960.00	1

Marsabit

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Marsabit Town	21,600.00	301.13	21,901.00	10

Nyeri

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Karindundu	28,800.00	432.00	29,232.00	19

Laikipia

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Nanyuki, Nyahururu, Rumuruti	102,370.00	3,071.10	105,441.00	31

Tharaka Nithi

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
	106,197.00	1,594.46	107,791.00	13

West Pokot

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Kapenguria	2,080.00	31.20	2,111.00	24

Isiolo

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
	72,387.34	1,086.72	73,474.00	11

Kakamega

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Rosterman	40,542.00	417.45	40,959.00	37

Nyandarua

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Mahinga	8,640.00	601.41	9,241.00	18

Taita Taveta

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
	92,015.00	1,380.02	93,395.00	6

Kajiado

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Namanga, Bisil, Kajiado, Isinya, Mashru, Loitokitok, Kitengela	300,468.00	5,508.08	305,976.00	34

Tana River

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
	85,336.20	1,281.88	86,618.00	4

Turkana

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
Nayanae Ngikalalio	5,000.00	1,000.00	6000.00	23

Siaya

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	Total (Tones/Year)	County Code
	268,259.00	4,026.78	272,286.00	41

Kericho

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	County Code
	144,000.00	2,400.00	146,400.00	35

Narok

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	County Code
	312,741.50	4,691.46	317,433.00	33

Bungoma

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	County Code
Lumoro County Dumpsite	144,000.00	2,160.00	146,160.00	39

Elgeyo Markwet

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	County Code
	122,755.05	1,841.00	124,596.00	28

Kisumu

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	County Code
	312,120.54	>4,685.57	316,806.00	42

Kiambu

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	County Code
Kangoin	511,200.00	7,677.04	518,877.00	22

Makueni

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	County Code
Nduenguu	37,292.05	561.12	37,853.00	17

Meru

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	County Code
	417,497.35	6,163.25	423,661.00	12

Kisii

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	County Code
Kisii ATC	342,178.89	5,134.37	347,313.00	45

Nakuru

Name of Designated Dumpsite	Solid Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	E-Waste (Tones/Year)	County Code
	584,010.76	8,760.22	592,771.00	32

E-Waste Generation in Kenya

In Kenya, electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing waste components, with an estimated 51,300 tons of electronic waste being generated annually. Ongoing studies commissioned by NEMA through the Africa Environmental Health and Pollution Management Project point to the possibility of e-waste generation being doubled in the country. Currently, e-waste accumulation is reaching unsustainable levels owing to management challenges and they are becoming a major source of environmental pollution. 

Previous reports indicate that most of the e-waste ends up in open dumpsites where they face open burning, releasing toxins into the environment and polluting the ambient air. The leachates that emerge from the dumpsites are believed to be releasing pollutants from e-waste to the soil and the environment, suggesting patterns of pollution. 

Owing to e-waste management challenges, e-waste is often mixed with other municipal waste and disposed of at open dumpsites where it is treated through open burning. Such open burning for e-waste is a significant source of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), dioxins, furans, cadmium, beryllium, and lead to release to the environment and can lead to severe human health and environmental hazards.

Main Drivers

The key drivers of increasing e-waste generation is largely coming from increasing ICT uptake and inadequate strategies for sound management of e-waste coming from the ICT devices and equipment when they come to the end of life period. Unsound management of e-waste will therefore continue to increase the e-waste.

Major Impacts

E-waste comprises chemical and heavy metals that, once released in the environment through open burning and direct contact to the environment, result in ambient air, soil as well as aquatic ecosystems pollution. Open burning of e-waste may release furans and dioxins among others gaseous pollutants that may harm environment and humans. Direct release of chemicals from e-waste to soil and water pollute the soil and water that people heavily depend on thereby posing environmental challenges and health concerns to biodiversity, livestock and people.

E-waste Management
A sound approach to the management of uPOPs in e-waste is advancing circularity in e-waste. Circularity or circular economy promotes the reduction and reuse in e-waste. These approaches are founded on the basis that e-waste contains valuable material that can be harvested and recycled or the entire e-waste can be refurbished to bring it back to use thereby reducing the amount of e-waste. Kenya is aligning with this approach in e-waste management and through the AEHPMP and expect to gain momentum.

Opportunities
Despite the challenges associated with e-waste pollution, sustainable e-waste management can be a source of wealth. E-waste comprises precious metals that can be harvested using appropriate technologies and sold. Devices reaching end of life can also be refurbished and returned to markets to stimulate circular economy models.

Financing
In Kenya, solid waste of which e-waste is one stream is a devolved function handled by County Governments. They provide the resources for the management of solid waste and therefore e-waste. In addition to resources from the Government, several development partners and private sector players have forged collaborations with the national or county governments for financing management of solid waste and e-waste. Currently, the Africa Environmental Health and Pollution Management Program is one of the greatest financing arrangement playing a critical role in bridging the solid waste and e-waste financing gap.

Policy and Governance
The regulatory frameworks comprise a critical part of the approaches to sound management of solid waste and e-waste. Kenya has taken major steps in the development of regulatory frameworks for advancing solid waste and e-waste management in the country through: 

• the National Environment Policy, 2014; 
• the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (Revised, 2015), 1999; 
• the Waste Management Regulations of 2006 and 
• on the pipeline are drafts on e-waste regulations and on Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations.

SOLID WASTE

Solid waste continues to be a major environmental concern in Kenya. A major part enter open dumpsites where they face open burning, causing ambient air pollution and soil and aquatic ecosystem pollution.

Solid Waste Management

Technology
In recent times, technologies have emerged for addressing solid waste management across the world and Kenya has mainstreamed some of them. These revolve around the circular economy model that ensures that solid waste is recycled into new products, minimizing therefore the amount that enters dumpsites.

Financing
The solid waste management financing is largely driven by the Government of Kenya. Although allocations to the national and county governments are limited. Several development partners and private sector players also contribute to support solid waste management. The financing efforts from these sources remain relatively limited compared to the resources required to make a transformative change in solid waste management. Therefore, further innovative financing approaches are still required to scale up the ongoing approaches in the sustainable of solid waste management in Kenya.

Governance and Policy 
Kenya is one of the countries that has made major progress in providing for the policy landscape to advance solid waste management. Largely anchored on the National Policy of 2014, several regulatory frameworks have been developed including the Environmental Management and Coordination Act, (Revised 2015), 1999; and the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022.

The Kenya regulatory frameworks such as the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022 has been developed to provide the necessary regulatory support on circular economy and related regulations such as the Draft Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations among others are being developed to guide the ecosystem for the implementation of the law.

The key players in solid waste governance in line with the constitution of Kenya 2010 are the county governments. The county governments are charged with the responsibility of solid waste management. Other agencies at the national level also play a critical role as provided in various statues. Notably is the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) which is mandated to provide supervision and coordination of matters environment in Kenya. In implementing Environmental Management and Coordination Act, 1999, NEMA provides various regulatory and technical support in the management of solid waste. Other players with the relevant mandate, contribute to solid waste management.

Kenya has laid appropriate solid waste and e-waste governance arrangements anchored in laws. The County Governments as provided in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 have the overall responsibility for solid waste management. The County Government work closely with various relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies like the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in mainstreaming sound solid waste management