The Regional Bill

Together with the Africa Legal Network, we initiated an East African Campaign to advocate for a ban of unnecessary SUPs and published a draft Bill which has been accepted for tabling in the EA Legislative Assembly.

Our aim is to have the East African Community Bill calling for a ban on unnecessary  single-use plastics approved, implemented and enforced. With the global Plastic Plastic Treaty framework, there is strong alignment and opportunity for East Africa as a region to be a leading example.

We work alongside other NGOs, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the private, government and public sector to generate support for the bill, advocating for an end of certain single-use plastics in the region as well as the promotion of circular economy principles and solutions.

GAINING BACKING FROM 21 LEGISLATORS

In 2023, together with ALN, UNCTAD and The ICCF Group, we worked with 21 legislators from all 7 East African countries who unanimously agreed to a regional approach to tackling single-use plastics. 

Watch the video to below to hear from some of the legislators backing our bill.

Local Advocacy

At the Lamu county level, we continue to advocate for Lamu’s waste management legislation to be established, in line with Kenya’s Sustainable Waste Management Act. We support local capacity building to ensure governments have the necessary tools, technical advice and knowledge to effectively support this Act and devolved action plans.

In 2021: Flipflopi model included as case study for good practice in Kenya’s First National Marine Litter Action Plan.

In 2022: Flipflopi was included in Lamu Municipality’s First Solid Waste Management Policy as a key stakeholder. 

Public petition

We are calling for all the East African Community Member States to reach regional consensus and take a leadership stance by adopting legislation to address single-use plastic and ban the most destructive, useless plastics – those that can’t be recycled and are non-essential to human survival – such as cotton buds, cutlery, disposable cups, and plastic straws.

The EAC holds a unique opportunity to set a global example for plastics legislation with majority of states having in-place laws addressing plastics. To find out more about the state of affairs on plastics in the EAC, check out this report!

And make sure you sign and share our petition below.

impact on expeditions

Our expeditions have brought together global policymakers and stakeholders generating momentum and triggering tangible action.

In 2018: 40+ businesses, including 37 hotels in Kenya, committed to banning the use of plastic bottles and straws, replacing them with sustainable alternatives.

In 2019: Flipflopi was visited by President Kenyatta of Kenya and was taken to the United Nations Environment Assembly as a flagship symbol calling for a regional end to SUPs.

In 2021: The Queen of the Buganda Kingdom signed our petition, and following the expedition, Uganda joined UNEP Clean Seas Treaty.