The Kenyan Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening international cooperation on the sound management of chemicals and waste, as well as addressing pollution across its entire lifecycle.
Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Festus K. Ng’eno, said Kenya remains keen on aligning global scientific evidence with national and regional policy priorities to support sustainable development, protect human health and safeguard ecosystems.
Dr. Ng’eno spoke when he paid a courtesy call on Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Fancy Too, at the Embassy offices in Switzerland.
The engagement comes as the Principal Secretary leads Kenya’s delegation to the First Session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP P1), being held from February 2 to 6, 2026, at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG).
The ISP-CWP is a newly established independent intergovernmental body mandated to strengthen the global science-policy interface on chemicals, waste and pollution.
The Panel seeks to bridge the gap between science and policy by providing policymakers with credible, policy-relevant scientific assessments to support informed decision-making at national, regional and global levels.
Dr. Ng’eno noted that Kenya views the Panel as a critical mechanism for advancing evidence-based environmental governance, particularly for developing countries that continue to bear disproportionate impacts from pollution and hazardous waste.
He emphasised that Kenya’s participation in the inaugural plenary session reflects the country’s growing leadership in global environmental governance and its commitment to science-driven solutions to chemicals management, waste reduction and pollution control, in line with national, regional and international environmental obligations.
Ambassador Fancy Too reaffirmed Kenya’s continued support for multilateral environmental processes and highlighted the strategic role of the Geneva Mission in advancing Kenya’s environmental and climate diplomacy.
She assured the delegation of the Mission’s full cooperation in supporting Kenya’s engagement during the ISP-CWP plenary and related negotiations.
The meeting was attended by Ambassador James Waweru (Foreign Affairs), Ms. Linda Kosgei (Environment), Mr. Tobias Ogweno (Foreign Affairs), alongside other senior government officials.
Kenya’s engagement at the Geneva talks underscores its resolve to promote inclusive, science-based approaches to managing chemicals, waste and pollution, while strengthening international collaboration to address emerging environmental challenges.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
