KBC Channel 1

Tag: Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA)

  • Kenya pushes circular economy agenda as government, private sector advance new national strategy

    Kenya pushes circular economy agenda as government, private sector advance new national strategy

    Kenya has intensified efforts to transition towards a circular economy following high level talks between the Ministry of Environment and the private sector aimed at shaping a new national framework for sustainable production and waste management.

    The meeting with the delegation led by KEPSA Head of KEPSA Consult, Circular Economy & Climate Change Dr. Kinyanjui Koimbori, focused on advancing Kenya’s transition to a circular economy.

    Speaking Monday when he hosted a delegation from the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Environment Principal Secretary Eng. Festus Ngeno welcomed the collaboration, noting that circular economy principles are a key pillar under the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and the Ministry’s Strategic Plan 2023–2027.

    The discussions centered on the development of the Circular Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan (CESIP), a national framework aimed at shifting Kenya from the traditional linear “take-make-dispose” model to a more sustainable system that maximizes resource efficiency and minimizes waste.

    Dr. Ng’eno emphasised that adopting circular approaches will not only address environmental challenges such as pollution and waste management but also unlock economic opportunities, including job creation and green investment.

    The KEPSA team briefed the Principal Secretary on the CESIP development process, which will be implemented over a seven-month period from April to November 2026.

    The initiative is being supported technically by the Finnish Innovation Fund (Sitra) through the European Circular Economy Resource Centre, with KEPSA working in consortium with Intellecap Advisory Services.

    According to Dr. Koimbori, the strategy will provide a coordinated national roadmap consolidating existing policies and aligning efforts across sectors such as plastics, agriculture, textiles, electronics, and construction areas identified for their high resource intensity and potential for circular innovation.

    During the discussions, Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno called for a more inclusive and expedited approach to stakeholder engagement.

    He urged the team to leverage the Council of Governors (CoG) to gather views from county governments and ensure timely input from devolved units.

    Further, he encouraged the use of additional engagement platforms, including virtual platforms, to broaden participation and accelerate the process.

    The Principal Secretary also directed that the Ministry’s Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) team be actively involved in the process, particularly those who participated in negotiations on the global plastics treaty and the science-policy panel on chemicals and waste, to enrich the strategy with international best practices and insights.

    Environment Principal Secretary Eng. Festus Ngeno

    Dr. Ng’eno underscored the critical role of Kenya’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations, noting that effective implementation will not only improve waste management but also stimulate local manufacturing by promoting recycling, value addition, and sustainable production systems.

    The CESIP will be developed through four key phases: inception, situational analysis, stakeholder engagement, and strategy formulation, with participation expected from over 110 stakeholders across government, private sector, academia, and civil society.

    The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deliver a practical, action-oriented strategy that will accelerate Kenya’s transition to a circular economy while supporting climate action, sustainable production, and long-term economic resilience.

    The meeting was attended by Molu Wato, Director, Waste Management and Pollution Control in Environment and Climate Change, Karnika Yadav, Director at Intellecap Advisory Services among others.

  • SeamlessHR, KEPSA lead private sector push for tech-driven productivity

    SeamlessHR, KEPSA lead private sector push for tech-driven productivity

    Industry players have underscored the importance of digital workforce management in driving productivity and long-term value creation in Kenya’s private sector.

    This was emphasized at a recent high-level roundtable convened by SeamlessHR in partnership with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), which brought together over 100 CEOs and managing directors to explore strategies for competitive advantage amid economic uncertainty.

    Held at Capital Club East Africa, the roundtable brought together Kenya’s top business leaders to explore how integrating HR technology and digital automation can drive workforce productivity and secure competitive advantage.

    Themed “Unleashing Growth Amid Continued Economic Uncertainty: Strategies for Competitive Advantage,” the session emphasized the urgent need for organizations to redefine their workforce strategies to remain on the path to sustainable growth, while increasing workforce productivity in an unpredictable economic climate.

    Delivering the keynote, Jaswinder Bedi, KEPSA Chairperson, remarked, “The Private sector is currently dealing with short-term cost pressures while trying to execute long-term growth strategies. Collectively, the manufacturing and service industries contribute up to 76% of the country’s GDP. As the private sector, we must rethink how we are attracting, managing, and enhancing productivity. Technology gives us the tools to build inclusive, efficient, and globally competitive organizations. We need to remain a regional leader, and workforce productivity must be a national priority.”

    Sharing his insights on the intersection of digital innovation and human capital growth, Dr. Vimal Shah, Co-Founder & Chairman, Bidco Group, noted, “We are at a critical point, and businesses that fail to digitize their people operations will fall behind. AI is helping us operationalize a lot of the mundane tasks that are required daily, enhancing our operations and helping our workforce to be more agile, competitive, and productive. Volatile competitive environments will always exist, but we need to have a long-term strategy that can take up the short-term cost pressure as we continue to innovate and grow.”

    This was echoed by Brenda Mbathi, CEO, TRIFIC SEZ, who emphasized the importance of future-proofing human capital strategies in the digital age, “Our future will be shaped by how we optimize human capital and enhance the competitive advantages we see in our market to serve local, regional, and international customers.

    Irfan Keshavjee, Chairman of the Advisory Board of SeamlessHR, emphasized the importance of future-proofing human capital strategies in the digital age, “Africa’s economic future will be shaped by how well we optimize human capital. At SeamlessHR, we are building the infrastructure for a more productive continent, and our goal is to help businesses transition from reactive operations to proactive, data-driven people strategies that drive productivity of the workforce and power real business growth.”

    Kenya’s economy, while showing signs of recovery, continues to grapple with some economic issues, such as inflationary pressures, currency instability, and declining consumer purchasing power. For the private sector to thrive amid these challenges, enhancing workforce productivity through digital tools and innovation has become a strategic need.

    Panelists, including Dr. Vimal Shah (Co-Founder & Chairman, Bidco Group), Kris Senanu (Chairman, Smith and Berkeley), Brenda Mbathi (CEO, TRIFIC SEZ), and Martin Mugambi (CEO, Citibank Kenya), offered insights on how progressive organizations are harnessing HR tech to enhance workforce productivity while navigating today’s economic uncertainties.

    They also explored how agile, cloud-based HR platforms, embedded finance, and data-driven insights are unlocking new levels of organizational productivity.

    The roundtable reinforces the importance of a culture of innovation within the Kenyan private sector to drive productivity and long-term value creation.

    By prioritizing continuous learning, employee engagement, and digital automation, businesses can remain on a path of sustainable growth.

    This strategic collaboration between SeamlessHR and KEPSA demonstrates a shared commitment to transforming Kenya’s private sector through the power of digital workforce management.

    The partnership offers a scalable blueprint for boosting workforce productivity, driving digital innovation, and securing long-term economic sustainability for Kenya.

  • KEPSA launches carbon market guidebook for Kenyan enterprises

    KEPSA launches carbon market guidebook for Kenyan enterprises

    The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), in partnership with The World Bank, has launched the Carbon Market Guidebook for Kenyan Enterprises at a stakeholder-engaging event in Nairobi.

    The guidebook aims to provide step-by-step guidance for Kenyan enterprises in various industries including; agriculture, waste environment, forestry, trade, banking, insurance, manufacturing, energy, transportation, construction, and hospitality to navigate the complex and fast-evolving landscape of carbon markets.

    “Carbon markets offer an alternative financing avenue that can empower enterprises struggling to access traditional climate finance,” noted Dr John Wandaka – Vice-Chair of KEPSA Environment, Water and Natural Resources Sector Board during the launch.

    He added that funding constraints hindered the ability of Kenyan enterprises to contribute meaningfully to climate action.

    Dr Wandaka said KEPSA acknowledges the recent legislative amendments and international agreements geared towards bolstering the country’s engagement in carbon markets, notably the 2016 Climate Change Act that underwent amendments last year to integrate carbon markets into the mainstream.

    KEPSA has played a pivotal role in spurring green investments through initiatives such as co-chairing the Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals (P4G) national platform with the National Treasury.

    Through this platform, the organization has facilitated the implementation of 14 partnerships aimed at promoting sustainable practices, including the Partnership for New Plastics Economy in Kenya and Sustainable Special Economic Zones (SSEZs).

    Council of Governors Chairperson of the Environment and Climate Change Committee Dr. Wilber Ottichilo lauded the timely release of the Carbon Market Guidebook, noting that it aligns with the urgent need to address climate change.

    Governor Ottichilo added that by engaging with local governments and aligning with national climate objectives, private enterprises in the carbon markets space could contribute to emissions reduction while also fostering economic growth and community resilience.

    While commending the partnership between KEPSA and The World Bank, Mr. Isfandyar Khan – Lead Financial Sector Specialist at The World Bank, noted that KEPSA provides a special linkage to the enterprise.

    He also pointed out the ongoing digitization efforts in Kenya and in the global market where more companies were now using digital technology in the carbon market space.

    The event brought together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to discuss opportunities and barriers that Kenyan enterprises faced when engaging in carbon markets.

    Other speakers at the event included Stephen Odua – Director of Business Environment, Ministry of Investment Trade and Industry; John Elungata – Secretary for Administration, State Department of Environment and Climate Change among others.

    Other leaders from KEPSA who attended the event included Victor Ogalo – Deputy CEO; Dr Jackson Koimbori – Senior Circular Economy and Climate Change Coordinator at KEPSA; Emily Waita – Chair of the Environment, Water and Natural Resources Sector Board; Susan Maingi – Chair of Trade and Industry Sector Board; John Kalungi – Vice Chair, Lands and Housing Sector Board; and Ben Roberts – Chair, ICT Sector Board.

    The event also provided an opportunity for exhibitors to showcase innovative carbon market-related solutions.

    It also featured panel sessions on creating a policy-enabling environment for carbon markets in Kenya; and challenges and opportunities in the carbon market for Kenyan enterprises.

    The Carbon Markets Guidebook provides credible information about regulations in understanding carbon credits as a way to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.