Kenya is struggling with serious environmental issues. Mountains of unsorted waste are building up and contaminating the environment and nature, there is a lack of clean water, and natural resources are being overexploited.

However, Kenya's economy is growing and the country wants to change its industrial production into a resource-efficient model whereby waste from one business can serve as raw material for another. Denmark can help Kenya steer onto a greener course.

- Visit Denmark on a State of Green Waste & Resources Tour

This will benefit businesses in Kenya as well as in Denmark, and therefore the Danish Minister for Environment and Food, Esben Lunde Larsen, has signed a cooperation agreement for the environment area with Kenya.

"For more than 50 years, Denmark and Kenya have collaborated on the environment, water and agriculture through Danida, and today we are adding to this collaboration. I am pleased to be able to strengthen this collaboration with environmental efforts that will benefit Danish businesses, Kenya's environment and not least the poorest Kenyans, who are often affected most by pollution," said Esben Lunde Larsen, who is currently on an export drive in Kenya.

Danish environmental experts and businesses to go to Kenya
Danish experts from the Ministry of Environment and Food will go to Kenya to exchange experience and advise on enforcement of environmental regulations and inspection of businesses etc. Kenyan businesses want to be better at utilising resources, and this is where Danish products can make green solutions to ensure cleaner production, better waste separation and reduced water consumption.

- Read more about: Waste Policy and Planning

"Kenya has introduced policies, legislation and other initiatives to enable transition to sustainable production. Therefore, Kenya and Denmark can help each other, and together develop the solutions that Kenya needs and ensure a sustainable future for businesses as well as the population," said Professor Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Water and Natural Resources in Kenya.

Danida will support the partnership between Denmark and Kenya with about DKK 5 million over the next three years.

About the new partnership

Cooperation between authorities:

• Seconded Danish experts from the Ministry of Environment and Food can help Kenya to become better at inspecting businesses, ensure cleaner production and promote resource-efficiency.

Cooperation between businesses:

• With higher environmental requirements, Kenya will need green environmental technology. Danish business can supply this technology, and Kenya can cooperate with Danish businesses on developing technology tailored for the needs of Kenya, so that the country can live up to its own visions of more resource-efficiency and a circular economy.

Kenya needs help with:

• Cleaner production, reduction of industrial pollution, waste management, waste separation, water consumption, treatment of wastewater, enforcement of legislation, inspection of businesses.

Potential for Denmark:

• Danish support and exports to Kenya will help create stability and jobs in Kenya as well as in Denmark.
• Kenya is a powerhouse in East Africa. Increased growth in Kenya can power growth throughout the region and strengthen opportunities for selling Danish goods.

Further information:
Jens Fuglsang Edelholt, Press Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Food, tel. (+45) 9135 6996, e-mail: [email protected]
Michael Rasmussen, Senior Advisor, Danish EPA, tel. (+45) 25528577, e-mail: [email protected]

Source: The Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark