Twelve young Kenyan innovators have received a total of Sh53 million, which is about $407,000 in grants from the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) to scale community-driven climate solutions.
The awards were issued under the Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge (YEIC), which targets youth aged 15–35 developing practical responses to environmental challenges. The second edition of the competition attracted more than 400 applications, with 10 youth-led organizations and two individuals emerging as winners.
KCDF said the grants are meant to support scalable projects in clean energy, circular economy, climate-smart agriculture, and conservation. “These young innovators are not just imagining a greener future—they are building it,” the foundation said in a statement.
Youth-Led Winners
The 10 enterprises recognized include:
- MOMA Renewable Energy (Kisii):Converts organic waste into bioethanol.
- Vermi-Farm Initiative (Meru):Promotes sustainable agriculture and adaptation.
- M-Taka Waste Solutions (Kisumu):Enhances community recycling and waste management.
- Eco Nasi Limited (Machakos):Develops eco-materials from pineapple pulp waste.
- Timao Group (Nairobi):Produces low-cost building materials from plastic waste.
- Megagas Alternative Energy (Nairobi):Converts plastic waste into clean cooking gas.
- Pollen Patrollers (Kiambu):Provides pollination services to improve farm yields.
- Zalika Greentech (Nairobi):Expands renewable energy and off-grid electrification.
- Adumu Limited (Nairobi):Creates fashion products from recycled materials.
- CropScan Smart Farming Tech (Nairobi):Uses AI and IoT for farm productivity.
Two individuals — Erick Sankale Olkiado and Nthuku Mumo Osoro — were also awarded for their grassroots environmental efforts.
KCDF also announced the launch of the third edition of YEIC, under the theme “Scaling Innovations for Environmental Impact.” The next phase will prioritize projects in climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, renewable energy, and circular economy.
The foundation noted that most of the winning projects already generate revenue, proving that environmental action can also be financially viable.
