Kenya has taken a major step toward tightening its environmental governance framework with the release of two draft regulations for public review.
The new regulations are electrical and electronic waste management, and updated guidelines for environmental assessments and audits.
The Draft Electrical and Electronic Waste Management Regulations, 2025 aim to address one of the country’s fastest-growing pollution threats: e-waste.
The regulations propose a more structured system for handling discarded appliances, computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices, which currently end up in informal dumpsites or are handled by unlicensed recyclers.
The draft introduces tighter controls on manufacturers, importers, distributors, and consumers, and outlines requirements for collection centres, extended producer responsibility, and proper recycling to minimize environmental and health risks.
Also released for public scrutiny are the Environmental (Strategic Assessment, Integrated Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2025, which seek to update and streamline Kenya’s environmental impact assessment regime.
The proposed rules consolidate strategic environmental assessments, project-level impact evaluations, and periodic environmental audits under a more integrated framework.
Officials say the goal is to improve efficiency, clarify procedures, enhance compliance, and ensure that development decisions are aligned with national sustainability priorities.
NEMA says the publication of a Regulatory Impact Statement is meant to ensure that stakeholders understand the expected benefits, costs, and administrative implications of the new laws before they are adopted.
Members of the public, civil society, industry players, and professional bodies have been encouraged to review the documents and submit written comments within the stipulated consultation period.
The authority added that the review is part of Kenya’s ongoing effort to strengthen environmental protection amid increasing pressure from rapid urbanization, expanding industrial activity, and rising volumes of hazardous waste.
Once finalized, the two regulations are expected to modernize Kenya’s environmental management framework, close existing loopholes, and align the country with global best practices on waste handling and environmental oversight.
