The objective of the Stockholm Convention is to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by reducing or eliminating their releases. Under Article 16 of the Stockholm Convention, effectiveness is evaluated in part through environmental monitoring. The Global Monitoring Plan (GMP) provides a harmonized framework for collecting comparable data on POPs listed in Annexes A, B and C, enabling Parties to track trends over time and assess regional and global transport.
Madadi highlighted: It's important to identify trends because that gives us information on how effective the measures that countries or Parties are putting in place are, and whether they contribute to the overall goal of the Convention — to reduce or eliminate releases of POPs in the global environment.”
Within this framework, Kenya’s engagement in the GMP since 2008 shows how monitoring can inform national policy, regulation and site remediation. Kenye have participated in collecting samples of core media – ambient air, mothers’ milk and water, following GMP guidance and standard operating procedures developed through UNEP/GEF projects and established monitoring programmes.
Approaches to data collection
Effective participation in the GMP requires sustained investment in training and capacity-building. Personnel should be trained to deploy sampling equipment for air, water and mothers’ milk in accordance with international standards. Kenya has participated laboratory and field training, including collaboration with expert groups such as RECETOX, to strengthen analytical capacity.
Sampling is conducted at both remote and urban background sites. Air monitoring at Mount Kenya provides important regional background data, while the Kabete site near Nairobi offers insight into urban background levels. Monitoring results show the presence of dioxins and furans (PCDD/DFs) even at background sites, indicating emissions within the country, likely from uncontrolled combustion such as waste burning.
Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have also been detected, often at levels significantly higher than dioxins and furans. Although many of these pesticides were banned years ago, they remain detectable, suggesting that contaminated soils may still act as secondary sources. These findings highlight both the persistence of POPs and the importance of long-term monitoring.
Data sharing, awareness raising and policy engagement
Kenya has ensured that GMP data are actively shared and discussed. Monitoring results and project activities are presented at national workshops to stakeholders, helping translate technical findings into practical understanding.
National GMP reports, including a submission to the Ministry of Environment in June 2021, have informed policy discussions. Reports have also been shared with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in 2022 and 2023 to support policy formulation.
Kenya’s data contribute to the Africa regional monitoring report and ultimately to the global monitoring report used for effectiveness evaluation under the Convention. At the national level, GMP data inform National Implementation Plan (NIP) activities and strategic POPs monitoring priorities, supporting evidence-based decision-making.
Data application in policy contexts
Kenya’s experience demonstrates how monitoring data can shape concrete policy actions. GMP findings supported the development of national monitoring protocols for POPs in air, water and soil, with priority hotspot sites identified in 2021. The country also engaged NEMA to initiate monitoring of dumpsites, industrial and residential sites in 2022. Quantifying emissions from these areas enables authorities to advocate for resource allocation and improved management.
In parallel, Kenya has developed new regulations addressing POPs and other chemicals, including the Air Quality and Plastic Regulation (2024) and the Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals Regulation (2024), which incorporate POPs considerations. GMP data provide the scientific evidence underpinning these regulatory measures.
Kitengela POPs pesticide site rehabilitation
A key example of data-driven action is the rehabilitation of the Kitengela obsolete pesticide site. Kitengela was identified in Kenya’s POPs inventory and NIP as a priority site for remediation.
Established in the 1960s as a temporary pesticide storage facility, corrosion and leakage led to significant soil contamination. Although drums and bags of pesticides were removed and destroyed, approximately 400 tonnes of contaminated soil remained unmanaged.
With GMP data of elevated pesticide levels indicating the urgency of intervention, a concept note was developed and submitted under the African Chemicals Observatory (Africa ChemObs) project. After the site was selected for remediation, government officials visited it and observed strong pesticide odors and emissions.
The University of Nairobi Enterprises and Services (UNES) was engaged to support rehabilitation. A remediation strategy was developed that includes introducing indigenous plant species to create a canopy, reducing volatilization and emissions to the air, and further research is being conducted to break down residual pesticides and minimize environmental release through phytoremediation and enhanced biodegradation.
By systematically collecting, interpreting and sharing data, and by linking monitoring results to policy and remediation, Kenya demonstrates how scientific evidence can drive tangible progress toward protecting human health and the environment from POPs.
For a deeper dive into the GGKP webinar Making Data Work: Applying GMP and POPs Inventories for Evidence-Based Policy in NIPs, you can access the full recordings and materials here.
This article was curated by Mark Schulman, Content Editor, GGKP, and reviewed by Soomin Bae, Project Support Consultant, GGKP.
