KAKUMA, October 22, 2026 — Kakuma Municipality has unveiled a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and Plastic Recycling Centre funded by the Government of Japan through a joint programme involving the County Government of Turkana and Peace Winds Japan.
The facility is designed to improve waste management, promote environmental conservation and create economic opportunities for people engaged in recycling and waste-related businesses.
The unveiling also coincided with the commemoration of 60 years of partnership between Kenya and Japan across various sectors.
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Speaking during the ceremony, Hori Tomonobu, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Kenya, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting sustainable waste management and environmental conservation in Turkana.
He noted that the project demonstrated the growing partnership between Kenya and Japan and their shared commitment to sustainable development.
Michael Aupe, Deputy Director for Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation, emphasised the importance of maintaining a clean and safe environment, saying the facility would help create a healthier living environment for residents.
Aupe urged community members to take responsibility for protecting and maintaining the facility to ensure its long-term sustainability and continued benefits to the public.
The centre is also expected to support employment and livelihoods by providing infrastructure for people involved in recycling and waste management businesses.
Aupe linked the initiative to Agenda Three of the Shirika Plan, which focuses on economic opportunities and work.
He highlighted the potential of waste management and recycling to generate employment and support livelihoods among both refugee and host communities in the Kakuma area.
The facility is expected to provide a platform for improved waste recovery and plastic recycling while encouraging greater community participation in environmental conservation.
The ceremony was attended by Christine Nalemsekon, Turkana West Sub-County Administrator; Gabriel Kowot, Assistant Director of Administration at Kakuma Municipality; Mark Donald Ajele, Social Safeguard; and Godwin Wambani, a public health officer in the municipality.
The launch marks another step in efforts to strengthen waste management infrastructure in Kakuma while creating opportunities for local economic participation.
The project's long-term impact will depend in part on effective management of the facility and continued community involvement in maintaining a clean and safe environment.
