Turning trash to wealth: Youth and women's group reaps from waste

In the densely populated informal settlement of Obunga in Kisumu City, something unusual is happening. What was once a landscape defined by overflowing dumpsites, blocked drainage systems, and scattered plastic waste is slowly transforming into a structured system of environmental recovery and economic empowerment.

The narrow footpaths where waste once accumulated are now being walked by organised groups of youth and women, wearing gloves and overalls, carrying sacks, sorting waste, and converting what was once considered worthless into a source of income and environmental restoration.

The organisation is registered as Kamakowa Jam Taka Workers Cooperative Society Ltd, a community-based cooperative founded in 2017. It brings together young people and women from Obunga and surrounding areas with one central mission: to turn waste into wealth.

Through integrated programmes, the organisation collects organic market waste and converts it into organic fertiliser using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae. In the process, tonnes of waste are diverted from open dumpsites, reducing environmental pollution and creating economic opportunities for residents.

The story of Kamakowa Jam Taka did not begin as an environmental project. It began as a youth welfare initiative.

“I’ve been a member of this organisation since it was formed to date. It has really done a lot for us and impacted the area we live in,” says Roselyn Opiyo, a member.

“It comprises youths and women, and we have been in several places just because of this project.”

The organisation traces its roots back to 2014 when, according to its director, Isaiah Odhiambo, a group of young people came together not for business, but for mutual support.

“It was a youth engagement, a club based on welfare,” Odhiambo explains.

“We had a challenge on welfare. One of us had a funeral, and we decided to come together as youth to support. So that’s when we realised we needed something more sustainable to support us economically.”

What began as a small, informal welfare group gradually evolved. In 2017, the group was formally registered as a youth organisation, and later in 2020, it transitioned into a community-based organisation (CBO).

By 2019, the idea of structured waste management had taken shape, eventually leading to the formation of Kamakowa Jam Taka.

It's a youth-led, women-centred social enterprise operating under the Wezesha Mama programme supported by the M-Pesa Foundation in partnership with Hand in Hand Eastern Africa.

Kisumu County, like many urban centres in Kenya, faces a major waste management crisis.

In informal settlements such as Obunga, Nyalenda, and Manyatta, waste collection systems are overstretched or inaccessible.

According to environmental data, the county generates approximately 500 tonnes of waste daily, most of which ends up in open dumpsites or is burned, releasing toxic pollutants.

The situation worsens during rainy seasons when waste blocks drainage systems, leading to flooding, contaminated water, and increased disease risk. Plastics, organic waste, and hazardous materials are often mixed and dumped indiscriminately.

In such an environment, Kamakowa Jam Taka saw both a challenge and an opportunity.

“The organisation has an aim of reducing waste in the environment,” explains David Omolo, a member of the cooperative. “We are mainly focusing on environmental conservation, helping towards climate change.”

The organisation operates through a structured system of waste collection that covers Obunga, Nyalenda, Migosi, and even parts of Kisumu Central and Kisumu West. Collection is done weekly, with teams assigned specific zones.

“We do waste collection from households,” David explains. “The collection is done every week in different areas, from Obunga, Nyalenda, up to the airport area.”

During collection, waste is carefully separated. “We take out plastics and other wastes such as diapers and sanitary towels,” he says. “The organic waste is mostly food remains from kitchens.”

This separation is crucial because organic waste, if left unattended, produces greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

“We know the effects of organic waste in the environment,” David adds. “They produce a lot of greenhouse gases.”

Faced with the challenge of organic waste management, the group turned to an innovative solution: Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming.

“We sat down as a group and asked ourselves, how can we best decompose this organic waste instead of filling landfills?” David explains. “That is when we started introducing Black Soldier Fly farming within the organisation to enhance our circular economy in waste collection.”

BSF larvae feed on organic waste for a period of two to three weeks, breaking it down efficiently and converting it into two valuable products: protein-rich larvae and organic fertiliser known as frass.

“The larvae feed on this food waste over time for a period of two to three weeks,” David says. “They reduce it into what we call frass fertiliser.”

Although production is still small-scale, they are planning to expand it.

“We have a demonstration farm in the CBO where we grow organic vegetables,” he explains. “These vegetables are used by women in the CBO and some community members.”

Instead of chemical fertilisers, the group uses frass. “We have resolved to use organic manure instead of chemical fertilisers or herbicides,” David adds.

The organisation collects a wide range of organic waste, including ugali leftovers, kale, cabbage, fruits, and market waste. “We collect food waste like remains of ugali, kale, cabbage, and fruits from the market.’’

However, some waste is excluded. “With tomatoes, we leave them rotting in the farm since they are acidic and harmful to the flies,” he says. “After rotting, seeds germinate naturally, which we call natural seeds.”

Plastic waste is handled separately through a buy-back system supported by a material recovery facility provided by Kisumu County Government in Obunga-Nyalenda.

The organisation is divided into two main groups: youth and women. “The youths do house-to-house waste collection,” David explains. “The women help in waste separation, BSF management.”

The women also monitor BSF cycles and handle production processes.

The cooperative currently has 54 members, up from just 15 at inception. “We’ve been increasing,” Isaiah says. “When we started, we were about 15 youths. Now we are 54, with women being the majority.”

According to Vera Ouko, Managing Director of Saniwise Technologies, which deals with waste management, BSF farming is a breakthrough in sustainable waste management.

“Black Soldier Fly farming has emerged as a cornerstone of the circular economy,” she explains. “It is a highly efficient biological engine for waste management.” She notes that BSF larvae contain 40 to 50 per cent protein, making them suitable for poultry, fish, and pig feed.

“Frass is a natural fertiliser that restores soil nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium,” she adds.

BSF farming also reduces methane emissions and requires minimal land and water, making it ideal for urban informal settlements.

Residents have already begun to notice changes. “Since we started, there has been a great impact,” David says. “Before, there were open illegal dumpsites, but now we have reduced them significantly.”

Roselyn Opiyo describes the change from a lived experience.

“We always pick a day every week,” she says. “We move around Obunga collecting waste like used oil, plastics, food remains, and even from drainage systems.”

“This is our neighbourhood, and we must keep it safe so that people cannot say we live in a dirty environment.”She adds.

Members say the organisation has changed their lives beyond income generation.

“I have received training in financial literacy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management,” David notes.

Bernard Ojwang, Director for Environment in the County Government of Kisumu, notes that waste management challenges are often due to a lack of infrastructure.

“People sometimes dump waste not because they want to, but because they lack bins and skips,” he explains.

The county has introduced skips, bins, and trucks in strategic areas.

Despite progress, challenges remain. “We are still constrained financially. We need revolving funds to support sustainability.” Odhiambo explains.

He also highlights licensing costs as a barrier. “We also need exchange programmes to learn from countries like Rwanda,” he says.

He adds that BSF production is still small-scale due to space and resource limitations.

The organisation envisions a waste-free society. “At the end of the day, we want a sustainable community,” Isaiah says. “A society where youth and women are empowered and employed.”

“We want every household to understand waste separation and environmental responsibility,” David adds.

From welfare beginnings in 2014 to a structured environmental enterprise in 2017, Kamakowa Jam Taka Workers Cooperative Society Limited has evolved into a model of community-led innovation.

Through waste collection, BSF farming, recycling, and community engagement, the group is redefining how informal settlements respond to environmental challenges.