The Right to do Repairs–Tackling Kenya’s Growing e-Waste Challenge

Kenya generates an estimated 51,300 metric tons of electronic waste annually according to NEMA (the National Environment Management Authority) in Kenya. However, just 5 percent of this e-waste is formally recycled with the remaining percentage just vanishing into the informal economy or informal landfills. Sadly, it routinely undergoes unsafe disposal practices including open-air burning to extract copper; sadly the burning leases highly toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium into local water tables and agricultural soil. The resultant environmental degradation and associated public health risks have become a pressing concern for policymakers and environmental economists alike.

The root of the crisis, observers argue, lies in both consumer behavior and in the structural design of the modern electronics industry. A growing body of academic literature suggests that the linear “take-make-waste” economic model is unsustainable. Quite often, the vast majority of items that end up as e-waste could be salvaged long before they reach the point of irreversible discarding and unfortunately, the missing link is affordable, accessible repair and maintenance services which the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can directly provide. 

Yet, research driven the “right-to-repair” movement, most notably from institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, asserts that consumer waste, particularly e-waste, could be mitigated by ensuring that end-users have immediate access to diagnostic tools, genuine spare parts and qualified technicians. This is in addition to early and transparent communication by manufacturers about the availability and location of such services before consumers default to replacing their appliances.

Against this background, LG Electronics has positioned itself at the forefront of advancing the right-to-repair agenda by investing in an extensive aftersales infrastructure that assures Kenyan consumers the access to reliable repair and maintenance services across the country. This approach aligns the company’s commercial objectives with its commitment to delivering durable, high-quality products while helping reduce the premature disposal of electronic devices.

However, access to repair services is only meaningful when consumers can easily reach them and afford them. To address this, LG recently concluded its LG Mtaani Care Football Season Campaign, an aftersales initiative designed to bring repair services closer to consumers while reducing the financial barriers that often lead to the unnecessary replacement of electronic appliances.

During the campaign, consumers benefited from free diagnostics, waived service fees, discounts on selected genuine spare parts, and special discounts on TV remote controls. These incentives encouraged consumers to repair and maintain their products rather than replace them, extending product lifespans while reducing the amount of electronic waste generated.

In addition to primarily enhancing customer convenience, the campaign also demonstrated how accessible and affordable aftersales support can contribute to a circular economy. Every appliance restored to working condition represented one less product destined for disposal and reinforced the principle that repairing existing products is often the most sustainable option.

For institutional investors tracking Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance, such initiatives provide a compelling example of how multinational corporations can reduce downstream environmental impacts while creating shared value in developing markets.

“As a responsible corporate citizen, we strive to ensure that the products we sell continue serving our customers for as long as possible,” explains  Donghun Lee, President of LG Electronics East Africa. “Providing access to quality repair services, genuine spare parts and skilled technicians is central to that commitment. It not only delivers greater value to consumers but also contributes to reducing electronic waste by extending the useful life of our products,” Lee affirms.

And as African nations grapple with the dual challenges of rapid digital adoption and dire need for environmental preservation, manufacturers manufacturing in or exporting to the continent will increasingly be expected to take responsibility for the full lifecycle of their products.                            As aforementioned, the LG Mtaani Care Football Season Campaign demonstrated that investing in accessible aftersales support is not only good customer service but also an important contribution to environmental sustainability. 

By embracing the principles of the right-to-repair, manufacturers can help build a more circular economy where products remain in use for longer while consumers derive greater value from their purchases. Essentially, fewer electronic devices end up in landfills. –ENDS=