The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to county governments to reorganize existing dumpsites and strictly enforce waste segregation, in line with the Sustainable Waste Management Act (SWMA).
In a directive issued Friday, NEMA said counties must immediately put in place the infrastructure needed to promote waste separation at source and in transit, warning that failure to comply will trigger enforcement action under Section 27 of the Act.
“Take notice that all county governments are required and are hereby directed to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy in waste management by reorganizing dumpsites accordingly and facilitating segregation of waste at source,” NEMA’s Director General Mamo Boru stated.
According to the Authority, waste transporters are now required to only carry segregated waste, while counties must provide designated reception areas for organic waste, recyclables, residual waste from recovery facilities, and landfill disposal for unrecoverable fractions.
This is the third warning in less than a year. NEMA had earlier issued similar directives on December 19, 2024, and June 18, 2025, yet compliance has lagged in most counties.
Crackdown on Plastic Bags
The ultimatum comes barely a month after NEMA intensified a nationwide crackdown on illegal manufacturers of banned polythene bags. Enforcement teams recently raided several facilities following reports that some companies were secretly producing the outlawed packaging materials.
“The renewed operations underscore our commitment to protecting the environment. We call on the public to help report offenders,” the Authority said in its August 19 statement.
Counties on the Spot
Analysts warn that most counties lack the infrastructure and budgetary support to implement the reforms within three weeks, setting the stage for potential clashes between devolved governments and NEMA. With urban centers already grappling with overflowing dumpsites, the directive has escalated pressure on governors to demonstrate compliance or face sanctions.
Environmental lobby groups, however, have welcomed the move, saying counties have dragged their feet for too long and that Kenya risks sliding back into a waste management crisis.
The clock is ticking—and in just 21 days, NEMA will decide whether counties are serious about transitioning to a cleaner, circular economy or whether enforcement action becomes inevitable.
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