Machakos County will benefit from the launch of an e-waste management programme by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) and other stakeholders.
Nema has partnered with telecommunication service provider Safaricom and the Communication Authority of Kenyafro the initiative.
Machakos County Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua praised the initiative promising to rally residents to support proper electronic waste disposal. He said that the programme was a means of keeping the county clean which is their objective.
Machakos University College was identified as a collection point for e-waste material. The university gave out their obsolete electronic materials for safe disposal.
Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore stated that since the programme was initiated in the country two years ago, more than 12 tonnes of e-waste from communities, public and private institutions have been collected.
The e-waste programme integrates public education and community awareness to sensitise the public on dangers of improper disposal of obsolete electronics. The electronic waste collection programme that was initially launched earlier in Nairobi has visited various parts of the country and Machakos County was the last leg of the eastern region awareness campaign caravan.
President Uhuru Kenyatta in June signed regulations requiring e-waste to be disposed of at government-licensed facilities meeting international standards.