The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Plastic pollution remains a growing issue in Kenya, particularly in urban centres and coastal regions.
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The country currently produces around 966,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually—a figure expected to rise to five million tonnes by 2030, according to UNCTAD. Yet only 8–10% of this waste is recycled, as per a 2023 report by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA).
Despite government measures like banning single-use plastic bags in 2017 and extending restrictions to protected areas in 2020, plastic remains a persistent environmental challenge.
In Garissa, however, one recycler is making a difference. Fred Olingo, founder of Taka ni Mali, is giving plastic waste a second life while providing livelihoods to many in the community.
Originally started in Nakuru in 2016, Olingo relocated to Garissa after realizing the higher availability of plastic bottles due to the region’s reliance on bottled water. He recalls collecting over 10 tonnes of bottles within a week of arriving.
Today, his recycling facility employs around 20 casual workers and supports nearly 50 independent collectors who gather plastics from town, hotels, and public events.
Among them is 65-year-old Kasembi Paul, who has been collecting and selling plastic bottles since 2018. Her earnings, sometimes reaching Sh2,000 a day, help cover her family’s needs, including her daughter’s college tuition.
Collectors bring sorted plastic waste to the plant, where it is weighed, cleaned, and crushed before being sold to processing companies. Olingo pays about Sh25 per kilogram, sometimes more to motivate workers.
Despite its success, the business faces challenges, including high licensing costs and transport levies from the county government. Olingo hopes for more supportive regulations to sustain the initiative.
Garissa County’s NEMA director, Isaac Kimitei, acknowledged that partnerships like these have played a key role in reducing plastic pollution in the region.
As Kenya marks World Environment Day on June 5, themed “Global Call to End Plastic Pollution,” efforts like Taka ni Mali offer hope for a cleaner, greener future—while turning trash into treasure.
