Greenpeace Africa Calls on Kenya to Adopt Strong Refill and Reuse Targets to Curb Single-Use Plastics

By James Nyaigoti,

Greenpeace Africa has called on the Kenyan government to set ambitious national targets for refill and reuse systems as part of a wider effort to phase out the country’s dependence on single-use plastics. 
The organisation says such measures would not only protect the environment but also unlock economic opportunities and reduce the mounting costs of plastic pollution.

The appeal was made on Thursday during the launch of the inaugural Refill and Reuse Festival at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi. The two-day event brings together communities, civil society organisations, policymakers, innovators, and manufacturers to demonstrate practical alternatives to throwaway plastics.

Hellen Kahaso Dena, Project Lead for the Pan African Plastics Project at Greenpeace Africa, said Kenya stands to benefit greatly from investing in refillable and reusable packaging systems.

“Refill and reuse systems are not new to Africa. They are rooted in our culture and have existed since time immemorial,” said Dena. “What is new is the invasion of single-use plastics pushed by corporations prioritising profit over people and planet. Governments must invest in refill infrastructure and set clear targets that make reuse the norm, not the exception.”

Dena warned that the economic burden of plastic pollution is significant, noting that countries spend billions clearing clogged drainage systems, cleaning rivers, constructing incinerators, and managing health impacts linked to plastics.

Gerance Mutwol, Plastics Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, criticised the global overreliance on recycling, describing it as a distraction that allows corporations to continue producing more plastic.

“Recycling is a distraction that allows corporations to keep producing more plastic while shifting responsibility to consumers and governments,” said Mutwol. “Plastics persist in the environment throughout their lifecycle, leaching harmful chemicals into our soil, water, and bodies. Refill and reuse systems prevent pollution at the source, conserve resources, create jobs, and protect public health. This is an environmental imperative and an economic opportunity governments can no longer ignore.”

The festival themed “Experience, Refill, Reuse: A Sustainable Lifestyle for All” features hands-on refill stations, zero-waste exhibitions, and children's upcycling art contests. The second day will include live music, poetry, storytelling sessions, and an interactive refill challenge with prizes.

Organisers say the event aims to show that sustainable alternatives are not only practical and affordable but also deeply aligned with African values of community, sharing, and resourcefulness.

Admission to the festival is free on both days.

Greenpeace Africa is an independent campaigning organisation promoting solutions essential to a green and peaceful future. Its work includes protecting biodiversity, advancing renewable energy, ending plastic pollution, and holding corporations and governments accountable for environmental harm.

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