Local entrepreneurs have been called upon to foster new ways of waste management by employing modern recycling technologies, which will create a robust market for recycled materials, reduce the dependency on plastics, and stimulate economic growth.
Ministry of Co-operatives, Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME’s) Development Cabinet Secretary (CS), Wycliffe Oparanya, said that Kenya is being confronted with the reality of plastic pollution, posing a significant threat to the environment, wildlife, and public health.
“We must recognise this challenge as an opportunity to innovate and create sustainable solutions and lead the way in waste management,” said Oparanya.
Speaking in Nairobi, Tuesday, when Snetor East Africa Limited, together with other companies, launched the Complete Plastic Exhibition (COMPLAST), Oparanya said that the sector through manufacturing and recycling is a critical contributor to job creation, particularly for the youth and women.
The CS noted that the sector is estimated to employ around 40,000 people directly, with an addition of around 200,000 employed indirectly.
“The solutions we explore today have the potential to empower our local entrepreneurs and foster new ways of business focus. The launch of this exhibition is not merely focused on processing plastics and plastic waste, but it is a strategic move aimed at tackling one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, which is plastic waste disposal,” explained Oparanya.
He cited that the exhibition presents an opportunity for minds to work together in the fight against plastic pollution that has become a global crisis.
He encouraged stakeholders at the expo to explore partnerships with the government and other private players to build a sustainable and inclusive plastics industry.
Oparanya assured the industry stakeholders, researchers, and communities that the government will ensure that sustainable waste management practices will be included in the national agenda.
Snetor East Africa Limited Managing Director, Shiraz Rehmanji, pointed out that COMPLAST is responsible for the growth of the plastic industry in Kenya and also plays an instrumental role in ensuring that they reduce plastic pollution through recycling.
By Moses Mwaura and Gift Maina
