From droughts, to floods and land pollution: Marindany Kirui has experienced many dynamic changes in his environment. Today, he is the Coordinator of the National Ozone Unit in Kenya and is actively involved in environmental protection.
Marindany Kirui has been involved in ozone and climate protection for over 20 years. For about eight years now, he is the Coordinator of the National Ozone Unit in Kenya, a unit within the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Against this background, Mr. Kirui is actively driving a nationwide shift to Green Cooling (ozone- & climate-friendly refrigerants in combination with high energy efficiency). We talked to him about his most rewarding experience and what’s still lacking for a successful transition.
Mr. Kirui, to begin with, a very general question: Why do you personally care about the environment? Is there a memorable experience in this regard?
Personally, I care about the environment as I have witnessed dynamic changes in it. I have experienced droughts, floods, change in rain patterns in the country, food loss, food wastage and land pollution (dumping of obsolete equipment), among others.
How did you get into ozone and climate protection and how long have you been working in this field?
Having been in the pollution control division of the Department of Environment in the Ministry of Environment as a chemist, and having the Ministry of Environment as the Focal point of the Ozone treaties, I was seconded to the Institutional Strengthening project under the Montreal Protocol on substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer as Assistant Coordinator. I have been working in the field for twenty (20) years.