Kenyan consumers are staring down the barrel of a 300% price hike on everyday goods as the government moves to enforce draconian new environmental regulations. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, while noble in intent, threaten to unleash an inflationary tsunami.

The warning from industry players is stark. Replacing a simple cracked phone screen protector or buying a new cover could soon become a luxury expense. The new framework mandates that importers and producers pay a fee for the entire lifecycle of their product’s waste. While NEMA celebrates this as a win for the environment, businesses are preparing to pass the entire cost to the end user.

The 300% Markup

The math is brutal. For low-margin items like electronics accessories, the proposed fees—such as the Sh150 import charge on "finished products"—dwarf the actual cost of the item.

"If these regulations are strictly implemented, we are looking at a market distortion of unprecedented scale," warned a representative from KEPRO. Small businesses, the backbone of the economy, are particularly vulnerable. Many lack the capacity to track waste or pay upfront levies, leading to fears of mass closures and a black market boom.

A Green Economy or a Broken One?

The standoff highlights the tension between sustainability and survival.

• The Trigger: A recent court order has cleared the way for NEMA to enforce the rules immediately.
• The Impact: From packaging to electronics, every imported good is now subject to the levy.
• The Reality: In an economy already groaning under the weight of high taxes, this is the straw that could break the camel’s back.

As the regulations take effect, the average Kenyan will be paying the price for the planet. The question remains: is the country ready to sacrifice affordable access to technology and goods at the altar of environmental compliance? For the mwananchi, the cost of "going green" is about to see red.