Kenya and Italy to Collaborate in Waste Management and Training.

CS.K.Tobiko shakes hands with the Italian Environment Land and Sea,Sergio Costa, during the bilateral talks.

Kenya and Italy will collaborate in areas of waste management in a bid to improve the environment the two countries environment Ministers have affirmed.

Kenya’s Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary KeriakoTobiko and his Italian counterpart for Environment Land and Sea,Sergio Costa agreed on the cooperation during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations Environment Assembly at Gigiri, Nairobi.

It was revealed at the bilateral meeting that Ngong dumpsite in Kajiado County was at an advanced stage of getting decommissioned to be replaced with an environmentally friendly land fill to be established through the assistance of Italy.

The two colleagues discussed various areas of cooperation includingspecialized training of forest rangers and the fight against climate change through Africa Center for Climate and Sustainable Development inaugurated in Rome.

This Centre Minister Sergio noted will provide a fast-track, demand-driven mechanism for African countries to access grant resources that support policies, initiatives, and best practices on climate change, food security, access to water, clean energy, and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.

CS Tobiko who was accompanied by the Chief Administrative Secretary Hon. Mohammed Elmi among other technical officers thanked the Italian government for a long mutual beneficial partnership and collaboration that the two countries have enjoyed over the years.

He underscored Kenyan government commitment to address the issue of waste management by putting in place policies and legislations.

“We have finalized the sustainable waste management bill and e-waste regulations and we are working with counties of Mombasa, Kisumu and Kajiado to decommission Kibarani, Kachok and Ngong dumpsite respectively”. The CS said.

The Italian Minister was accompanied by Italian Ambassador to Kenya Alberto Pieri, Director of sustainable development and Environmental Damage Dott Giovanni Brunelli, Head of the Cabinet of Minister in the Ministry, Prof Pier Luigi Petrillo among others Ends.