President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on other nations to follow Kenya's example and implement a ban on plastic carrier bags so as to protect the environment.
Speaking during the third session of the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA), President Kenyatta asserted that Kenya was willing to work with like-minded countries in the fight against environmental degradation.
He stated: “My advice is that nations should not heed the sceptics who say that all countries cannot protect our planet better by banning plastic carrier bags.
“As a country, we have learned our lessons and have taken various measures to deal with pollution in general...It is our intention to work with interested nations to explore the full potential of the blue economy,” he continued.
President Kenyatta noted that the implementation of the plastic ban in the country had proved that people were willing to embrace alternatives.
[caption caption="Delegates at UNEA"]
[/caption]
He further announced that as part of a fresh push to combat pollution, Kenya was planning a major anti-pollution summit that could lead to the signing of an international agreement.
Dubbed the East African Framework Agreement on Air Pollution, it is meant to protect the region from the harmful effects of pollution.
The President stated: “In furthering the Agreement on Air Pollution, we hope to repeat the success we have achieved with the ban of plastic carrier bags, and we look forward to global support in this effort.”
The event is currently ongoing in Gigiri, Nairobi, with over 4,000 Heads of state, government officials, business leaders, civil societies regulators and UN officials in attendance.
[caption caption="President Kenyatta delivers his speech at UNEA"]
[/caption]
President Kenyatta met the President of the UN General Assembly, Miroslav Lajcak, at Statehouse on Monday where they discussed ways of strengthening the UN's presence in Kenya.
