Waste is more than refuse—it is a narrative of change

Waste management in Kenya is no longer just about disposal—it’s becoming a story of innovation and opportunity. Waste, long considered a problem, is now a driving force for a new generation of African entrepreneurs. From crowded urban neighborhoods to rural landscapes, these young innovators are turning trash into treasure, reducing environmental pressure, creating jobs, and uplifting communities..

I met up with Gisore Nyabuti, the 27-year-old founder of Slum Going Green and Clean, on a bright, sunny Friday morning. His office is in the Kiandaa area, Bombolulu, deep in the heart of Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya—a community at the forefront of grassroots waste management in Kenya. The road to his office is unusually well-tarmacked, contrasting the rough paths commonly associated with the slum. Business shops line the street, each offering a piece of Kibera’s rich street food culture—vendors frying mandazi and chapatis, others boiling maize and beans by the roadside, filling the air with a warm, familiar aroma.

For decades, Kibera—regarded as Africa’s largest informal settlement—has faced an array of social issues, particularly due to its population. The overcrowded, informal settlement struggles with access to basic services like clean water, sanitation, and waste management. Unemployment is rampant, especially among the youth, leaving many with few options but to turn to crime in their quest for survival. Yet, amid the hardship, there is a resilience that cannot be ignored; a spirit of making do with what little is available.

Gisore, born and raised here, knows these challenges all too well. As he leads me through the narrow alleys and tight corridors, I can see how every inch has been claimed, mostly for housing. The pathways are flanked by doorways, each leading into a home. The walls of the makeshift houses, constructed from iron sheets and salvaged materials, seem to lean into the pathways, making them feel even narrower. Despite the lack of space, life thrives in these corners—children playing, women cooking, and neighbours chatting.

Finally, after twists and turns, we reach his office. It is a modest setup, but it is clear from the pride in his step that this is more than just a workspace. It is a hub of change, where he and his team tackle one of Kibera’s most pressing issues—waste management.

‘Growing up, I was a very lonely child,’ he recalls, his voice steady but reflective. ‘I found solace in books, thanks to one of my high school teachers, Fr. Miguel, who noticed I was an introvert, always with my nose in a book. He gave me access to the library, even at odd hours and during holidays. I would take books home to keep reading.’ It was in the quiet of these reading sessions that Gisore’s creativity began to flourish.

Through the pages of those books, he discovered a world of ideas and possibilities. By 2014, he had already started to channel his creativity into action. ‘We began an arts group that year,’ he says. ‘But as time passed, and the conversations around climate change intensified globally, I felt the urgency to do more. I brainstormed with my brother, and the idea of doing clean-ups and planting trees was born in 2017.’

Green Genesis

What started as a small effort has since evolved into Slum Going Green and Clean, a community-driven initiative focused on waste management, environmental sustainability, and youth engagement in Kibera. Gisore’s passion for reading had planted the seeds of his leadership—quite literally—by inspiring the greening of one of Nairobi’s most densely populated areas.

Joined by some of his team members, he introduces me to Ali Yusuf, one of the long-standing members of Slum Going Green and Clean. Yusuf, a soft-spoken yet passionate young man, has been with the group since graduating high school. His journey with Gisore began when Gisore handed him a copy of The Alchemist, a book that would mark the beginning of a close friendship.

‘I finished high school with high hopes,’ Yusuf begins, recalling the excitement of his graduation. ‘I thought I would go to university, maybe get an office job. But the harsh reality of unemployment hit me hard.’ Despite the challenges that followed, Yusuf says he has no regrets about how things turned out. Now, seeing the positive impact he has had on his community, he feels fulfilled.

Yusuf is Nubian, and unlike many who migrate from rural areas to Nairobi seeking better opportunities, Kibera is the only home he has ever known. ‘Growing up here, waste was everywhere, and it was just something we accepted,’ he explains. ‘Outbreaks of waterborne diseases like cholera and bilharzia were common. That river you crossed on the way here was once completely clogged with waste—what you see now is an improvement, but there is still a long way to go.’

His journey into waste management was not initially driven by passion, it was a necessity. ‘I joined Slum Going Green and Clean to make a little money. In the slum, if you are jobless but show any sign of doing well—like wearing new shoes—people will assume you are involved in crime. I wanted to change that perception.’

Over time, however, his mindset shifted. What started as a hustle evolved into something much more meaningful. ‘We began with simple garbage collection but soon learned how to recycle plastics and create ornaments. Now, we are even making earrings out of plastic waste,’ he says with a proud smile.

Their work has not gone unnoticed. ‘We have had opportunities to exhibit our creations at both local and international platforms,’ Yusuf shares, his eyes lighting up. ‘Looking back, I cannot imagine doing anything else. I would rate what we do a solid 9 out of 10.’ For him, what began as a small job to get by has become a calling, one that is making a real difference in his community.

Fresh Purpose

Maureen Ndenya, a mother of six, has been part of the team for four years. Before joining the group, she struggled to make ends meet, doing odd jobs like washing clothes for minimal pay. ‘Washing clothes was exhausting, and my back started aching from all the bending,’ she recalls. When she saw Gisore and his team going door-to-door collecting waste, she recognised an opportunity. ‘I thought, if I joined them as a woman, it might help other women trust the initiative more. Plus,’ she adds with a cheeky laugh, ‘I figured they would give me lighter duties.’

At first, she was one of only five women in the group. But when COVID-19 hit and cleanliness became essential to prevent the spread of the virus, their work took on a new level of importance. ‘During the pandemic, we had more women join us,’ she says, ‘And now we are about eight hundred strong.’ The job was not easy at first, she admits. ‘Even with gloves on, the sight and stench of what we had to handle was tough. But over time, we adapted.’

Despite the initial challenges, Maureen takes immense pride in how Kibera is slowly transforming. ‘Seeing the changes in our community brings me so much joy,’ she says. ‘We have made a difference and managed to generate income for ourselves.’ Recently, the women in the group established a savings and credit cooperative (SACCO), giving them access to loans and enabling them to grow financially.

Maureen highlights the crucial role women play in waste management. ‘Women are the ones who contribute most to waste disposal here—from diapers to food waste. So, when we all come together to ensure the garbage is collected properly, we are cleaning Kibera and providing a healthier environment for our children while earning a living.’

Slum Going Green and Clean operates a door-to-door waste collection service in Kibera, serving thirteen thousand households. Each household is expected to pay twenty shillings per collection, which takes place every Wednesday and Saturday. However, the reality of life in Kibera—where many live below the poverty line—means that only about eight hundred households can make the payment regularly.

‘We have provided each household with a waste bag,’ Yusuf explains. ‘On collection days, they simply leave the bags in front of their doors, making it easier for us to collect the waste, whether they are home or not.’ Despite the financial challenges, the team remains committed. ‘Whether they pay or not, we still collect the garbage because, for us, the waste is valuable,’ he adds.

Even though this particular Friday is not their usual collection day, the team is still hard at work. They collect waste from around six hundred households in the small area surrounding the office. As they move from house to house, there is a palpable sense of purpose. It is not just about keeping the slum clean—it is about transforming a community’s relationship with waste and providing a lifeline to many families through the employment opportunities this initiative has created. For the team, each collection round is another step toward a greener, cleaner Kibera.

‘Garbage collection is supposed to be the responsibility of the municipal council,’ Gisore says, ‘But they have no system in place for mapping informal settlements like Kibera. We are left with our problems and forced to devise solutions.’ Despite the challenges, his tone shifts to one of pride as he reflects on the unexpected opportunities from this gap. ‘I am happy this situation enabled me to create something bigger than I ever envisioned.’

Collective Power

Today, Slum Going Green and Clean boasts a network of over a thousand members. ‘We have managed to pull youth out of crime, some of whom were street children, and helped them rebuild their trust within the community. Now, they are earning an honest living through this initiative,’ Gisore shares. ‘Had I pursued traditional employment, I probably would not have met all these people or created the impact I see now. And in the years to come, I know the ripple effect will be even greater.’

He acknowledges that financial constraints remain a major challenge for his initiative. While they earn some income from waste collection services and selling ornaments made from recycled waste, it is not enough to sustain monthly salaries for all the workers involved. ‘We need to pay people, and even though we are generating some income, it is still not sustainable,’ he explains.

Currently, Gisore is exploring ways to secure a government tender to produce signage for affordable housing projects, using materials from recycled waste. This would not only generate more income but also help protect the environment by reducing the use of timber, which is commonly used for such signages.

His long-term vision is to establish a large-scale material recovery facility (MRF) and recycling industry in Kibera, dedicated to shredding plastics and producing panels that could be used in construction. ‘We want to make bigger panels that can replace timber and be used for more sustainable building materials.’

At the time of my visit, the machine they use for shredding plastic had already stopped working due to its high electricity consumption, and the burden of rising power bills had forced them to halt operations temporarily. Now, they are working on securing resources to get the machine running again and take their vision to the next level.

Since its inception, the group has significantly reduced the volume of waste clogging the narrow streets and waterways of Kibera. On average, they collect over four tonnes of waste every month, a considerable portion of which is processed into reusable materials such as plastic ornaments or compost. By repurposing waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or polluting the local river, the initiative has helped curb water contamination and decrease the prevalence of diseases like cholera. Their efforts also contribute to lower carbon emissions, as recycling plastics consumes less energy than producing new materials.

In contrast to the non-organic waste value seen in Kibera, I find a different narrative unfolding in Coastal Kenya. Paul Murage is the general manager and director at Pwani Fish Farm and Hatchery, which produces fingerlings (catfish and tilapia) for farmers, groups, and counties across the coast. Murage proudly speaks of delivering quality fingerlings to his customers, earning his business an award as the ’Best Startup Aquaculture in the Blue Economy Innovation and Investment Summit 2024.’ His farm, located in Mtwapa, in northern Kilifi County, exceeds my expectations.

As I enter the gate, I am greeted by a picturesque homestead. By the entrance, there is a vacant hall with a small aquarium housing tiny fish. After a warm welcome from his mother, we head to the farm. ‘We rarely allow people near the farm to avoid contamination,’ he informs me. However, I am granted an exception after cleaning my shoes before stepping into the well-walled facility. The ponds, equipped with machines to keep the fingerlings in fresh water, are carefully maintained.

The BSF Project

‘The most expensive part of running this business is feeding the fish,’ Murage explains. ‘About seventy percent of our maintenance costs go to feed.’ To find a more affordable, sustainable, and organic solution, Murage and his family started the black soldier fly (BSF) larvae project. ‘This was an idea my parents researched, and we decided to try it. I received training on it, and it has proven to be highly sustainable. The larvae only feed on organic waste, like fruits and vegetables,’ he says.

The larvae are then used to feed the fish, providing them with a highly nutritious and natural diet. ‘When you feed fish on organic food, they always become nutritious and healthy for consumption,’ he adds, highlighting the dual benefits of sustainability and improved fish quality in his operation.

He credits his wife for creating a valuable connection with grocery sellers in Kongowea, a vibrant and bustling market located in the heart of Mombasa City. ‘She convinced them to start putting their organic waste in bags, which we would collect in the evening. Initially, they gave it to us for free, but as time passed, they realised we were using it to add value and make money, so they began charging for it. That is how valuable waste can be—and it’s a clear example of how local initiatives are shaping the future of waste management in Kenya.’

The BSF project has proven promising, and Murage’s long-term vision is to establish a large-scale operation near the market. ‘This would not only help with waste management but also create more jobs.’ The main challenges he currently faces, like many in this space, are securing enough funds and improving the waste segregation process to scale the initiative fully.

In Meru County, Dominic Muriuki is running a similar project under the Beyond Poverty African Network. Muriuki’s initiative focuses on BSF larvae while integrating his community into a larger practice of agri-circularity, ensuring that nothing goes to waste. ‘We train communities on adaptive agriculture, teaching them to plant trees and farm using organic manure from their animals and farm waste,’ he explains. The organic waste is also purchased by the network for BSF larvae production, which is then sold as feed for pigs and poultry.

Muriuki emphasises the importance of community involvement, noting that residents are well-informed and even price their waste accordingly. ‘The waste here is equally valued,’ he adds. His vision extends beyond the current operations—he is already thinking of creating an app to connect the community with the BSF project. ‘With a simple tap, people will be able to market the waste they have, and we can quickly approach them to purchase it,’ he says, highlighting the potential for innovation in waste management and sustainability within rural communities.

Waste is an inevitable part of every human’s daily life, with each person contributing to the growing mountain of waste. As living standards and economic development rise, so does waste production—posing a major challenge for future generations. According to the World Bank, by 2050, the world will generate a staggering 3.88 billion tonnes of waste annually, a 73 percent increase from 2020. Yet, the link between waste management in Kenya and global climate change remains underappreciated by much of the global population.

In Kenya, organisations like the Kenya Platform for Climate Governance (KPCG) are supporting communities through their membership to address this issue. KPCG is a network of civil society and community-based organizations dedicated to advocating for climate justice and promoting local climate action. They support entrepreneurs in the green economy, helping to green livelihoods, and engage in policy work to drive sustainable change. Entrepreneurs such as Dominic Muriuki, Gisore Nyabuti, and David Ngige of Dajopen—who are all active in waste management in Kenya—are members of KPCG. They have received training in circular economy practices and are being supported to lead Kenya’s transition to a circular economy for climate action.

‘I got the chance to train with KPCG, and I hope to gain the exposure and linkages needed to strengthen our resource mobilisation,’ says Muriuki. His hope, like Gisore’s, is to use waste as a solution for a cleaner environment and as a path toward sustainable livelihoods for their communities. Through initiatives like theirs, waste becomes more than a byproduct of human life—it becomes a resource with the power to transform economies and combat climate change.

Farming Mentor

Speaking with David Ngige Muguro, an expert in Monitoring and Evaluation of waste management and organic farming, it becomes clear that this is still a largely untapped sector. Ngige is the founder of Dajopen Waste Management, a community-based organisation in Kitale, Kenya, aimed at improving the economic, social, and environmental conditions of vulnerable communities through waste management in Kenya. His approach includes waste collection, recycling, and training self-help groups in alternative livelihoods, organic farming, and sustainable waste practices.

Since its inception in 2007, Dajopen has transformed how its members handle waste—95 percent now use improved waste disposal methods. Over 21,000 people have been trained in waste management and organic farming, with eight community groups producing a range of recycled products.

Ngige emphasises the power of practical, hands-on training: ‘Through practicals, I can trace impact because this is a result-oriented approach. I have interacted with many young people who have great ideas. The population is increasing, and job opportunities are dwindling. If attention were given to this untapped space, where raw materials are in excess, we need only strategically invest in machinery to scale up.’

A multi-award-winning specialist, he has been recognised locally and internationally for his work. His efforts have taken him across Kenya, training women and youth in the value of waste management. ‘Age is slowly catching up with me,’ he says with a chuckle, ‘But I am still willing to train even more people. If the government and stakeholders focused more on this space, we would import workers instead of struggling to create jobs.’ His vision extends beyond community impact—he sees waste management as an opportunity for national growth and global competitiveness.

The entrepreneurs behind these grassroots initiatives—Gisore Nyabuti in Kibera, Dominic Muriuki in Meru, and David Ngige in Kitale—are more than problem solvers; they are changemakers at the forefront of an environmental revolution. Their innovative approaches to waste management in Kenya, from converting organic waste into resources for farming to creating employment opportunities through recycling, showcase the resilience and creativity needed to combat the pressing issues of waste pollution and climate change.

These local heroes are transforming their communities while providing a blueprint for how urban and rural areas can address these challenges head-on. As David Ngige aptly points out, the full potential of these initiatives will only be realised with strategic investments and greater global collaboration. Governments, private sector actors, and international organisations must recognise waste management as a crucial element of climate action, not an afterthought.

By supporting scalable models like these—ones that connect environmental sustainability with economic opportunity, especially through waste management in Kenya—there is an immense chance to reshape how the world tackles the waste and climate crises. These grassroots efforts, rooted in the heart of Africa, have the power to inspire global change, ensuring a sustainable, resilient future for all.

Edited by “Pius Okore”