Green Hand Organization moves to court to stop free laptop for schools project

By Lucianne Limo

NAIROBI, KENYA: A lobby group has moved to court to stop the government from issuing laptops to pupils joining class one in all public schools claiming the gadgets will cause harm to the environment.

Green Hand Organization (GHO) raised concern that if the programme is implemented at once, the right to clean and healthy environment enshrined in the constitution will be threatened.

GHO wants the court to prohibit the government from importing, assembling or supplying laptops to primary schools pending the hearing and determination of their case.

They argued that the average number of class one pupils joining public schools every year is approximately 700,000 to a million translating to the same number of laptops.

“The issuance of 700,000 to a million to pupils annually will open a flood gates of electronic wastes which will render management of such waste difficult notwithstanding the failed waste management system in the country, “said Hillary Rutto, GHO vice chairman.

They expressed fear that the Waste Management Lead Agencies have failed to devise measures that seek to reduce or recycle electronic wastes in the country hence the influx of a laptops annually will trigger a ‘tsunami’ of electronic wastes.

They said the programme will result to massive importation of laptops spare parts and other related appliances.

The lobby group has sued Principle Secretary, Ministry of Education and Environment, Director General National Environment Management Authority and Attorney General.

They want the court to compel the respondents to produce in court a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment report stating the possible or likely environmental risks posed by laptop project.

They also want the court to order the government to conduct a civic education on the environmental and health risk posed by components used to manufacture laptops before implementing the project.

The environmental lobby group raised concern that the issuance of laptops to every pupil in public schools will increase the amount of mercury and lead, a vital component in the manufacture of electronic devices thus raising serious health risks.

“Kenya risks being the dumping ground for electronic wastes from other nations if this programme and policy is implemented hurriedly in blatant disregard of environmental concerns, “said Rutto.

He added that the said hazardous and toxic substance cause depletion of the ozone layer fuelling global warming.

GHO alleged that the government has not set guidelines or legal framework for Electronic Waste Management.

The government has already identified 6000 primary schools that will be the first to benefit from the laptop project.

The Education ministry has estimated that about 425,000 pupils will be provided with the laptops starting in January out of the 1.3 million children expected to join standard one next year.

GHO said the implementation of the programme will be environmentally unreasonable, unsustainable and against legitimate expectation of the present and the future generation.