By Kelly Mumbi
After the completion of public hearings on the Finance Bill 2024, the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning engaged with various government agencies over certain provisions of the Bill before retreating to generate its report.
Dr.Eng. Festus K. Ng’eno, the Principal Secretary in charge of the State Department for Environment and Climate Change explained to the Committee the Ministry’s reason for proposing the eco-levy.
While addressing the Committee PS Ng’eno it is a requirement by the law that all producers assume extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations to minimize the pollution and environmental impact of the products they bring into the Kenyan market, as well as the waste generated from these products.
“Section 13 of the Sustainable Waste Management Act makes it mandatory for all producers to bear extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations to reduce pollution and environmental impacts of the products they introduce into the Kenyan market and waste arising therefrom,” argued PS Ng’eno.
The eco-levy will be imposed on products that substantially contribute to the waste problem, such as single-use plastics, electronic devices, and other non-biodegradable items.
“The eco-levy will be applied to products that are known to contribute significantly to the waste burden, such as single-use plastics, electronic goods, and other non-biodegradable materials,” he added.
According to the National Assembly Committee, PS Ng’eno submitted the introduction of the levy as part of international efforts to address the increasing problematic waste streams in recent decades.
However the members of the Committee on finance and national planning have noted that, “in the absence of a ring-fence mechanism for the Eco-levy, it would be hard to convincingly state how the levy would be used to roll out initiatives for environmental conservation.”