As the 7th EACO Regional E-waste Awareness Conference opens in Nairobi, the spotlight is once again on a global issue with serious ramifications for the environment and public health: electronic waste.
Over three days, from March 24 to 26, 2025, industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the East African region gather to deliberate on a mounting crisis that has become one of the hidden dangers of modern life—the mismanagement of e-waste.
Presiding over the conference, Hon. William Kabogo, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, made it clear that the region can no longer ignore the pressing threat posed by e-waste. With ICTs at the heart of Africa’s digital revolution, the consequences of inadequate e-waste disposal have been exacerbated.
Represented by Eng. John Tanui, MBS, Principal Secretary – State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, Ministry of Information, Communications & the Digital Economy ,Kabogo’s speech highlighted both the scale of the challenge and the need for immediate and concerted action.
“While digital transformation has undoubtedly fueled economic growth, opened new frontiers of opportunity, and broken traditional barriers of time and space, it has also led to the generation of billions of tonnes of e-waste globally,” Kabogo stated.
“Africa is at a crossroads; as the new frontier for mobile phone growth, we must prepare to face the surge in e-waste that comes with it.”Kabogo cited alarming statistics from the Global E-waste Monitor 2024, which showed that 62 billion kilograms of e-waste were generated globally in 2022, with Africa contributing a small but growing share.
More troubling is that only a fraction of this waste is recycled, with Africa’s formal collection and recycling rate lagging at less than 1%. In contrast, Europe—where the highest per capita e-waste is generated—has a recycling rate of 7.5 kg per capita. These figures lay bare the enormous gap in capacity and infrastructure that African nations need to address.
East Africa is particularly vulnerable due to the rapid electronification of its economies, with more electronic devices coming online and generating waste.
The demand for electronics such as mobile phones, refrigerators, and televisions is booming, but their short life cycles and poor repairability make them prime contributors to e-waste.
Addressing stakeholders on Monday in Nairobi, Mary Mungai, Chairperson of the Communications Authority of Kenya, emphasized the need for more comprehensive policies and infrastructure to manage the e-waste burden.
“If we are to holistically address e-waste, we must relook our policies and regulations, and make available the relevant infrastructure for collection and recycling. We cannot afford to become a dumping ground for low-grade devices,” she cautioned.
Both Kabogo and Mungai underscored the importance of collaboration across sectors. As Kabogo explained, e-waste is a double-edged sword, containing both hazardous and valuable materials. With predictions that global e-waste will reach 82 billion kilograms by 2030, there is an urgent need for the region to rethink its strategies, particularly in terms of circular economy principles, which could unlock the economic potential of e-waste.
“In Kenya, we have already begun implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, holding producers accountable for their products’ lifecycle, from manufacturing to disposal,” Kabogo noted. Such regulations are essential, but as Mungai added, “It will take more action and less talk to effectively manage e-waste and move towards a circular economy.”
The problem is not confined to formal sectors, as much of the e-waste handling happens in the informal economy.
Here, workers often dismantle devices without safety measures, exposing themselves and the environment to toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium.
Mungai called for targeted interventions to ensure that informal workers are protected and integrated into formal waste management systems.The speakers also touched on the critical need for accurate data on e-waste generation and disposal in the region. “Without precise data, policymakers are essentially flying blind,” Mungai remarked. “Accurate, comprehensive data will enable us to make informed decisions about how to tackle this complex problem.”
Despite the grim statistics, there was a sense of optimism that East Africa could turn the tide on e-waste. Kabogo highlighted the WEEE Centre in Kenya, a public-private partnership that has been at the forefront of refurbishing, repurposing, and recycling electronic devices.
By extending the lifecycle of ICT devices and ensuring their safe disposal, organizations like the WEEE Centre are proving that sustainable e-waste management is not only possible but can also spur economic growth.Kabogo closed his remarks with a challenge to the conference attendees:
“We must act now and work together—governments, manufacturers, industry players, and civil society—to build robust e-waste management frameworks. Let us set ambitious targets, track our progress, and commit to achieving sustainable e-waste solutions for our future generations.”
