PEACEFUL USE OF CHEMISTRY IS NEEDED

Chemicals influence virtually all human activity. Chemistry knowledge and manipulation has resulted to medicines and medical products that save lives and increase life expectancy to pesticides and fertilizers that tremendously increase agriculture productivity and greatly improved our quality of life.  Chemicals are widely used in the manufacturing, transport, mining, agriculture, research, energy and education sectors in Kenya. 

Chemicals play a significant role in industries, agriculture consumer and service based industries. On the other hand, there are risks posed with misuse or overuse of the same chemicals producing chemical weapons in form of poisons, explosives and bombs. For instance, chemicals like methanol and formalin have been misused to prepare lethal brews which have killed many people in various parts of the country; excessive use of pesticides fertilizers is also hazardous not only to the environment but also to human health; cause respiratory infections and even death; chemical burns from explosive acid containers and heavy metal poisoning including lead, mercury and cadmium.  Chemical

Weapons including arsenic acid have been used in warfare across the world.

The chemical sector in Kenya contributes approximately 6% to the country’s GDP and employs about 12,000 people in the manufacturing sector. Therefore risk management in the manufacture, handling, storage, transportation and disposal of chemicals is extremely important as Kenya envisages becoming a middle- industrializing country by 2030.

National approaches and innovative strategies must be employed to address chemical safety and security issues in the country.  We must develop curriculum for capacity building in chemical safety and security in our schools, colleges and Universities as well as commission more research into chemical detection systems.

Awareness must be stepped up for the public to fully understand the toxicity and hazards of chemicals and how to use and them safely. Disposal of wastes from industrial emissions and effluents which is a major of chemical to air, water and land must be managed in an environmentally sound manner.

Monitoring on effective use of chemical materials in schools and other training and research institutions that use chemicals in relatively small quantities yet they can be lethal when used in large volumes.

Kenya has not had chemical weapons but recent terrorist attacks mainly by the Al-Shabab militia who use fertilizer stockpiles and aluminum powder has posed a challenge in the country’s preparedness and response to chemical weapons. This calls for development of a coherent approach to chemical management which addresses the socio-economic advantages of chemicals as well as the risks they pose to human health and the environment. The Government through legislation must streamline the safe use, handling, importation, transportation and disposal of chemicals to mitigate against pollution, accidents and abuse.

Regional and International cooperation is paramount as chemical safety and security are beyond borders and best practices exchanges with our neighbors will enhance chemical safety and security in the region and yonder. Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear( CBRN) Centers of Excellence CoE is an European Union initiative to implement a coordinated strategy for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risk mitigation at international, regional and national levels. They have established a centre of excellence in Kenya and opened a training centre in Manyani where the custom officers are trained on CBRN risk management.

Kenya is among the 188 State Parties who support the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by prohibiting the production, transit and use of chemicals. Kenya receives support in training of personnel and detection equipments as a State Party and is expected to conduct regular security vulnerability assessments as well as implement security enhancements and create security management system towards ensuring chemical safety and security in the country.

The International Centre for Chemical Safety and Security (ICCSS) was set up by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the implementing body of CWC to foster chemical security and safety among manufacturers, academia, researchers, governmental agencies and users of chemicals.  ICCSS promotes chemical safety in national capacity building for peaceful research, development. Storage production and safe use of chemicals and also promotes assistance and cooperation for developing countries. The OPCW would like to set up a similar centre in Kenya to serve the African region by establishing a foundation for effective and coordinated approach to chemical safety and security. The project is expected to create national and regional capabilities for chemical safety and security for peaceful uses of chemistry and for infrastructure projects.

The OPCW will assist Kenya and African nations to develop integrated training framework, in capacity building through training of trainers and overall assist them to implement international obligations to ensure a free Chemical Weapons world. The African centre will help build capacity in the area of preparedness for and response to incidents involving the misuse or release of toxic chemicals and promote public awareness of dual concerns of chemicals materials.

The effective implementation of this project will require synergies between national and regional institutions involved in chemical activities including governmental, international research centers and private companies. Kenya is a major route for bulk chemicals for use in both agricultural and industrial manufacturing in the East African region and promoting a culture of safety and security in chemical activities must remain a priority for Kenya and the region.