Kenya Urges Faster Plastic Treaty and Pushes for Secretariat to Be Based in Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya – At the resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) for a global plastics treaty, Kenya’s Ambassador to UNON and UNEP, Ababu Namwamba, appealed to the international community to accelerate negotiations and finalize a robust, legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution. Speaking during proceedings in Nairobi, he warned that plastic waste has spiraled out of control, citing an estimated 7 billion tonnescurrently contaminating ecosystems and 430 million tonnes produced annually with inadequate recycling mechanisms. 

Key Demands and Strategic Positioning

• Urgency Over Progress: Namwamba stressed, “We are not closer to an agreement while plastic pollution is not waiting—it is getting out of control,” urging delegates to strike a deal within the remaining days of INC‑5.2. 

• Treaty’s Potential Impact: He emphasized the treaty could restore ecosystems, conserve biodiversity, and reduce public health risks globally. 

• Secretariat Location Push: Backed by the Africa Group, Kenya proposed that the treaty’s secretariat be housed at UNEP’s headquarters in Nairobi to improve policy coherence and streamline environmental governance. He lamented this recommendation had been omitted from the latest draft under Article 21. 

Kenya’s Delegation in Focus

Accompanying Ambassador Namwamba were key figures including:

• Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador James Waweru

• Environment Secretary, Dr. Selly Kimosop

• Director for Multilateral Environmental Agreements, Linda Kosgei

They collectively reaffirmed Kenya’s constructive role in the climate diplomacy arena and the pressing need for a binding treaty. 

Context: Where the Plastics Treaty Stands

• The INC process began in 2022, with Nairobi hosting the third session (INC‑3) in November 2023. The current resumed fifth session (INC‑5.2) is taking place from August 5 to 14, 2025, in Geneva, with a view to finalizing the treaty’s text. 

• Despite wide participation and commitment, negotiations have been sluggish, with critical components—like institutional location, lifecycle regulation, and financing—still unresolved. 

Summary Table