In a concerted effort to enhance waste management practices, the County Government of Uasin Gishu, through the Department of Water, Sanitation, Irrigation, Energy, Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, in partnership with the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), on Tuesday convened a stakeholders workshop to finalize on waste management policy that is projected to serve as a cornerstone for sustainable practices across the county.
The workshop took place at an Eldoret Hotel, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from various county departments, the private sector, legal experts, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and Eldoret City officials, among others.


Chief Officer for Environment Ms Mary Kerich, led the session, articulating the initiative’s primary goals of protecting public health and environment as well as driving job creation and wealth generation across the county.
Kerich highlighted the increasing global trend of turning waste into wealth, stressing that the new policy will facilitate the closure of existing dump sites and establish a material recovery system, benefiting both the economy and the environment.
“We have now developed a draft document and, by the end of this workshop, we aim to have a refined version ready to be taken to the next step,” she stated.


Underpinning the urgency of the matter, Kerich noted, “We have a very tight deadline to meet to complete this document. As an office, we will do everything possible to expedite the policy-making process.” She further urged all attendees to thoroughly address any potential issues to prevent delays in future revisions of the policy.
Highlighting the challenges Uasin Gishu County currently faces regarding waste management, Kerich reaffirmed Governor Dr. Bii administration’s commitment to developing effective solutions.
“This policy will help us tackle the pressing waste management issues affecting our county,” she explained.
Mr. Vincent Opiyo, representative in charge of policy joined the discussion via Zoom ands called on stakeholders to engage deeply with the policy document to ensure comprehensive understanding.
“It’s essential to identify any area z of the policy that may raise questions or concerns in the future. We must get this right. An effective policy will attract more waste management investors and encourage private sector involvement in our initiatives,” he emphasized.
“This document is vital for you—waste management is fully devolved. The environmental, climatic, and economic impacts of our policies should be your focus,” he added.


Moreover, Opiyo underscored the importance of aligning county policies with the national sustainable waste management framework, noting that such alignment would be crucial in attracting potential investors.
“The constitutional powers granted to the county should encourage investors to engage rather than shy away from opportunities. We need to present a clearly organized waste management strategy that evidences our commitment to handling waste sustainably,” he advocated.