M-taka getting awarded during the KCDF launch of the third edition of the Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge in Nairobi.
Kenya’s cities are facing a growing waste crisis. From overflowing dumpsites to blocked drainage systems, improperly managed waste threatens both public health and the environment.
M-taka, a tech-driven social enterprise, is tackling this challenge by turning discarded materials into economic and environmental value, demonstrating how innovative solutions can reshape the way urban waste is managed.
Its approach recently earned recognition from the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF), which awarded the initiative KSh 5 million under the Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge (YEIC).
The challenge supports youth-led ideas that provide practical, scalable responses to Kenya’s most urgent environmental problems.
This acknowledgment reflected not only the technology behind M-taka but also the enterprise’s broader impact: a system that seamlessly connects households, recycling agents, companies, and county governments, rewards proper waste segregation, strengthens livelihoods, and generates measurable environmental benefits.
Technology at the Core
Founded by Benson Abila, Primafacie Mutua, and George Bush, M-taka operates on circular economy principles, viewing waste as a resource rather than a problem.
Central to its model is a mobile platform that links every stakeholder in the recycling value chain.
Households can log their recyclables and track collections in real time, while companies and county governments can monitor compliance and environmental reporting.
The platform also integrates data analytics that optimize logistics, ensuring efficient collection and reducing operational gaps.
Since its introduction, the system has improved segregation at source by 57% and increased plastic waste collection by 31%, showing how technology can drive tangible, measurable outcomes in a sector historically dominated by informal practices.
By combining digital tracking with behavioral incentives, M-taka demonstrates that waste management can be both efficient and rewarding for all participants.
Social Inclusion and Economic Empowerment
Beyond technology, M-taka places social inclusion at the heart of its operations.
Kenya’s informal waste sector is largely composed of women and street-connected youth, many of whom work in unsafe conditions with minimal support.
Recognizing this, the enterprise trains these individuals as professional “recycling agents,” equipping them with business skills, protective gear, and access to healthcare.
To date, over 75 women have received training, while more than 30 individuals have gained direct employment through the program.
Participants report a 54% increase in income, illustrating the enterprise’s dual focus on environmental management and socio-economic empowerment.
By formalizing roles within the waste sector, M-taka ensures that environmental action and economic opportunity are mutually reinforcing, creating a cycle where cleaner neighborhoods and stronger livelihoods go hand in hand.
Tackling Kenya’s Urban Waste Challenge
The scale of Kenya’s waste challenge highlights the importance of such interventions.
The country generates between 3,000 and 4,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, with cities like Nairobi and Mombasa producing the bulk.
Nairobi alone generates 2,000 to 2,500 tonnes per day, yet only 10% is properly managed.
The remainder accumulates in unregulated dumpsites such as Dandora, contaminating waterways and blocking drainage systems.
Plastic waste is a particular concern: Kenya produces over 966,000 tonnes annually, but only 8% is recycled, creating environmental, health, and economic pressures.
M-taka’s technology-driven approach addresses these issues by improving collection efficiency and encouraging households to separate recyclables at the source.
Linking informal waste workers with formalized collection systems ensures that materials are tracked and converted into usable resources, providing both ecological benefits and new income opportunities for local communities.
Partnerships and Recognition
M-taka’s success is amplified through strategic partnerships.
The enterprise is an alumnus of the Kenya Climate Innovation Center’s (KCIC) GreenBiz program, which provides mentorship and technical guidance to promising green businesses.
Collaborations with Vihiga County have strengthened waste collection processes, while in Kisumu County, M-taka contributed to upgrading a Material Recovery Facility, improving the sorting and value recovery of plastics and other recyclables.
Recognition from KCDF YEIC 2025 further validated the enterprise’s model.
The challenge received over 400 applications from youth-led initiatives tackling climate and environmental issues, with finalists evaluated on innovation, scalability, and socio-economic impact.
Alongside M-taka, other notable innovators included MOMA Renewable Energy, which converts food waste into bioethanol, and Timao Group, which produces building materials from recycled plastics.
The YEIC award offers mentorship, workshops, and potential seed funding to help scale operations and extend environmental impact, underscoring the growing importance of youth-led solutions in Kenya’s environmental landscape.
Looking Ahead: Scaling the Model
The outcomes of M-taka’s work are already measurable, with improved waste collection, higher rates of segregation, and increased income for participants.
Moving forward, the enterprise plans to expand its platform to additional counties, train more recycling agents, and enhance the recovery and value of collected materials.
By combining technology, social inclusion, and partnerships, M-taka has built a replicable model for sustainable waste management.
As urban centers continue to generate large volumes of waste, the enterprise demonstrates that structured, data-driven solutions can simultaneously deliver environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Recognition from KCDF YEIC 2025 highlights the critical role of youth-led innovation in tackling national environmental challenges.
With a growing network of trained agents, a proven digital platform, and active collaborations, M-taka shows how urban waste can be transformed from a persistent problem into a resource that drives social and economic development across Kenya.
