The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has issued a fresh directive to all County Governments, reinforcing the implementation of the Sustainable Waste Management Act (SWMA) and the Waste Management Regulations, 2024.
NEMA in a notice on Friday, September 19, 2025, said that this move is aimed at enhancing waste segregation at existing designated dumpsites nationwide.
Under the new regulations, all waste generators are required to segregate waste at the source using color-coded bins. Green bins are designated for organic waste, black bins for general waste, and blue bins for recyclables.
NEMA issues 21-day ultimatum to all counties on handling of waste
Additionally, transporters of waste must carry only segregated waste in compliance with the set categories. County Governments are mandated to provide the necessary infrastructure to support this effort, which NEMA said aligns with Kenya’s goal of building a circular economy where waste is treated as a resource.
“Take notice that all County Governments are required and are hereby directed to within the next 21 days, accelerate the transition towards a circular economy in waste management by facilitating segregation of waste at source and in transit by reorganizing dumpsites accordingly and by giving effect to sections 9,12,16,17 and 21 of the SWMA,” the notice reads.
“Take further notice that the Authority remains at liberty to invoke the provisions of section 27 of the SWMA on compliance and enforcement.”
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NEMA’s notice references earlier directives issued on December 19, 2024, and June 18, 2025, instructing County Secretaries to reorganize existing dumpsites to accommodate four separate reception areas for organic waste, general waste, Residual waste from Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and landfill for unrecoverable waste.
Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022
Kenya has already taken legislative steps to overhaul its waste management system through the enactment of the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022. This law establishes both the legal and institutional foundation for sustainable waste handling, reinforcing the constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment.
A key objective of the Act is to transition the country from a linear to a circular economy, where waste is minimized, reused, and recycled rather than simply discarded.
Violations of provisions under the Act – where no specific penalty is outlined attract steep consequences. Convicted offenders face fines ranging between Ksh2 million and Ksh4 million, or a prison term of up to four years, or both.
The accompanying Waste Management Regulations task individuals and institutions that generate waste with specific responsibilities: to collect, sort, and dispose of waste properly. Waste producers must embrace cleaner production techniques and adopt waste segregation practices at the source.
Hazardous and non-hazardous waste must be separated, with further sorting of non-hazardous waste into organic and inorganic fractions. All segregated waste must be placed in clearly marked, color-coded bins or containers, and subsequently transported to authorized disposal sites.
Also Read: NEMA Issues Notice to Waste Transporters
Handling waste without proper licensing from NEMA is prohibited by law. Individuals or companies must apply to the Authority for the relevant licenses.
Some key licensing fees include Ksh5,000 for waste transportation permits Ksh10,000 for operational waste transport licenses, Ksh80,000 for setting up waste storage or processing facilities, Ksh100,000 for running waste treatment or disposal sites and Ksh50,000 per consignment for waste export permits.
Mombasa and Nakuru leading in waste collection
Findings from the 2025 Economic Survey, published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), indicate that Mombasa and Nakuru counties had the most efficient solid waste collection systems in the previous year.
In 2024, Mombasa collected 650 tonnes of waste -62.1% of the 1,047 tonnes generated. The coastal city had shown steady growth from 420 tonnes collected in 2020, up through 700 tonnes in 2023.
Nakuru generated 540 tonnes of waste in 2024, collecting 320 tonnes, representing a 59.3% collection rate. This marked a gradual improvement from 230 tonnes collected in 2022 and 240 tonnes in 2023. Data for Nakuru’s performance in 2020 and 2021 was not available.
In comparison, Nairobi County generated 1,139.2 tonnes in 2024, up from 876 tonnes in 2020 while Kisumu saw gradual growth from 216.5 tonnes in 2020 to 231.6 tonnes last year but only managed to collect 69.4 tonnes roughly 30% of the total.
Uasin Gishu generated 235 tonnes in 2024, collecting just 34.2 tonnes, indicating low efficiency.
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