KCDF launches the third edition of the Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge in Nairobi.
Across Kenya, young innovators are transforming environmental challenges into practical solutions that benefit both communities and the economy.
From clean energy and smart agriculture to circular economy initiatives and climate resilience technologies, these trailblazers are proving that youth-led innovation can drive real change.
The Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge (YEIC), launched by the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) in 2023, identifies and supports promising individuals and youth-led organisations with scalable solutions that address environmental sustainability while creating socio-economic opportunities.
The second edition of YEIC, launched in June 2024, attracted over 400 applications from across the country.
Proposals underwent an intensive review by a panel of judges, and after a rigorous vetting process, 10 organisations and two individuals emerged as finalists.
Supported with cumulative grants of KSh 53 million, these innovators are now positioned to scale their projects, expand community engagement, and strengthen Kenya’s green transition.
Their work spans from converting waste into renewable energy and sustainable materials to using artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) devices for smart farming and forest monitoring.
This cohort of awardees exemplifies how technology, ingenuity, and community-focused strategies can combine to tackle pressing environmental challenges while generating livelihoods, fostering resilience, and inspiring the next generation of environmental entrepreneurs.
These are the trailblazing youth and organisations redefining environmental innovation in Kenya.
MOMA Renewable Energy (Kisii)
MOMA Renewable Energy is a social enterprise based in Kisii County that tackles organic waste management and household air pollution.
The company uses an innovative circular economy model to transform food waste from markets and processors into clean, affordable bioethanol fuel.
This approach diverts over 1,700 tons of waste from landfills annually while producing valuable byproducts such as nutrient-rich animal feed and organic fertiliser.
By focusing on bioethanol as a cooking fuel, MOMA offers households a healthier, safer, and cleaner alternative to traditional fuels like firewood, charcoal, and kerosene, which contribute to harmful indoor pollutants.
With a KCDF grant of KSh 5 million, MOMA aims to scale its operations, reach more households, and advance its mission of creating cleaner kitchens and a greener future.
Vermi-Farm Initiative Limited (Meru)
Based in Meru County, Vermi-Farm Initiative empowers smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth, with sustainable agricultural practices and inclusive financial solutions.
Its flagship innovation, the “Vermi-Farm DigiShamba,” is a low-cost, climate-controlled smart greenhouse that uses IoT technology to give farmers real-time control over crop production, helping them withstand unpredictable weather patterns.
The organisation also operates a circular economy model by converting food waste into organic compost, lowering input costs, and restoring soil health.
Vermi-Farm reports saving up to 78% of water in crop production and increasing farmer incomes through its programmes.
The KSh 5 million grant from KCDF will enable expansion of IoT sensor deployment, protected agriculture systems, and digital tools like the “Vermi-Farm Wallet” to improve crop yields, financial inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
M-taka Waste Solutions Limited (Kisumu)
M-taka is a tech-driven social enterprise from Kisumu that has developed a mobile app and smart systems to digitise recycling across Kenya.
The platform connects waste pickers, aggregators, and recycling centres, allowing them to record collections, check market prices, and connect directly with recyclers.
It also provides short-term financing to help waste workers grow their businesses.
With an AI-powered dashboard, M-taka tracks waste in real time, supporting companies and counties in meeting environmental reporting standards.
The organisation has already collected over 1.2 million kg of recyclables and prevented more than 3,500 metric tons of carbon emissions.
With the KSh 5 million award from KCDF, M-taka will scale operations by leveraging technology, data, and community engagement to build a cleaner, greener future.
Eco Nasi Limited (Machakos)
Operating in Machakos County, Eco Nasi Limited is a materials science company creating biodegradable, cruelty-free vegan leather from pineapple pulp waste.
This biomanufacturing process uses advanced protein engineering to transform agricultural waste into a sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional leather.
The company’s “Ecco” leather is fully biodegradable within 180 days and contains no plastics or harmful chemicals.
By sourcing pineapple waste directly from local smallholder farmers, Eco Nasi reduces agricultural waste while creating green jobs, particularly for women.
The KSh 5 million KCDF grant will enable the company to scale production, generate more jobs, and expand waste reduction efforts.
Timao Group (Nairobi)
Timao Group, a Nairobi-based social enterprise, addresses plastic waste and the housing shortage through an innovative recycling system.
It transforms post-consumer plastic into affordable, durable building materials such as bricks, beams, columns, and fencing posts.
These products offer a faster, cheaper, and more sustainable alternative to conventional construction materials.
According to the company, a 40 square metre structure can be completed in just seven days, saving costs and preventing up to 10 tonnes of plastic waste from polluting the environment.
The KSh 5 million KCDF grant will be used to scale the production of plastic-based building components, contributing to affordable housing and Kenya’s circular economy.
Mega Gas Alternative Energy Enterprise LTD (Nairobi)
Mega Gas is a clean-tech startup in Nairobi with an innovative plastic-to-gas solution that delivers clean, affordable cooking energy.
The company collects plastic waste from households and landfills, using a patented thermal cracking process to convert it into clean cooking gas.
Distribution is done through a network of women entrepreneurs and community kitchens, where households pay a small hourly fee instead of buying costly gas canisters.
This model improves affordability, eliminates harmful indoor smoke, and offers a cleaner alternative to biomass fuels.
The KSh 5 million award will allow Mega Gas to expand its community kitchen network, reach more households, and create more green jobs.
Pollen Patrollers Limited (Kiambu)
Pollen Patrollers, a female-founded agri-tech startup from Kiambu, uses technology to combat bee colony collapse and enhance food security.
The company provides beekeepers with IoT-enabled “smart hives” and AI-powered pollination services to boost crop yields.
Farmers also receive instant advice via USSD tools and AI hotlines, making expert guidance easily accessible.
Since its inception, Pollen Patrollers has supported over 3,000 beekeepers, trained more than 20,000 farmers, and increased hive productivity by 33% and crop yields by up to 50%.
The KSh 5 million KCDF grant will help expand smart hive technology, precision pollination services, and farmer training programmes.
Zalika Greentech Limited (Nairobi)
Zalika Greentech, based in Nairobi, uses artificial intelligence to safeguard Kenya’s forests.
Its “MC2” platform is an AI-powered early warning system that detects illegal logging, wildfires, and charcoal burning in real time.
Solar-powered sensors placed in vulnerable forest areas collect environmental and acoustic data, which AI algorithms analyse to trigger instant alerts sent to the Kenya Forest Service and community forest associations.
Piloted in Ngong Forest, the system has already reduced deforestation.
With KSh 5 million in funding, Zalika Greentech will expand MC2 to more forests, reinforcing climate action and protecting Kenya’s natural heritage.
Adumu Limited (Nairobi)
Adumu Limited is revolutionising institutional cooking in schools, hospitals, and community kitchens.
It has developed the “Adumu A100 biodiesel stove,” an institutional-grade cooking system that runs on renewable fuel made from waste cottonseed oil.
Operating at 95% combustion efficiency, the stove cooks faster, eliminates smoke, and features a solar-powered ignition system that can also power lighting.
The KSh 5 million KCDF grant will support the scaling of its lease-to-own model, making this high-efficiency cooking technology accessible to more institutions across Africa.
CropScan Smart Farming Technologies (Nairobi)
CropScan is transforming small-scale farming through a patented, solar-powered handheld device that uses computer vision and machine learning to diagnose crop nutrient needs in seconds.
CropScan directly addresses this gap by providing real-time, plant-level nutrient diagnostics and precise fertilizer recommendations, enabling a shift from guesswork to data-driven farming.
By analysing leaf and stem conditions, the device sends precise fertiliser and pesticide recommendations via SMS without requiring an internet connection.
Operated by trained rural field agents, this model has helped farmers cut fertiliser costs by more than 45% and increase yields by over 37%.
The KSh 5 million KCDF grant will be used to deploy more devices to farmers across Kenya.
Erick Sankale Olkiado (Individual, Nairobi)
Erick Sankale Olkiado is an individual awardee who founded the “LaGrange App,” a prototype platform designed to help young people and communities earn money by participating in the global carbon market.
The mobile app will allow users to grow and monitor trees and input field data, which the app will then use to calculate the amount of carbon stored by their trees.
This carbon value will be turned into real income, making tree planting not just a pro-environmental activity but also a viable way to earn a living.
The KCDF grant of 1.5 million shillings will be used to grow the platform, allowing more people to plant trees, track their impact, and get rewarded for their climate action.
Nthuku Mumo Osoro (Individual, Nairobi)
Nthuku Mumo Osoro is the founder of GCX Farms, a clean-tech startup working to make clean cooking gas more affordable.
The company is introducing absorbent biogas cylinders that store biogas at low pressure, making it safer and cheaper than LPG.
Their fully integrated waste-to-energy system will collect food and market waste to produce biogas, allowing customers to exchange empty cylinders for full ones.
The KSh 1.5 million award from KCDF will support expansion, bringing clean, reliable cooking gas to more households, food vendors, and small eateries.
Customers will simply exchange their empty cylinders for full ones, making the system 100% reusable and convenient.
