The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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In Wajir town, where plastic waste clogs streets and unemployment leaves many young people idle, a new initiative is turning a challenge into an opportunity.
Islamic Relief Kenya has rolled out a Sh2 million programme that tackles both plastic waste management and youth joblessness under the project Enhancing Plastic Waste Management and Youth Employment in Wajir.
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The initiative provides youth groups with training and seed capital—each receiving Sh400,000—to establish collection points for plastic waste. Five central hubs are being set up, alongside awareness campaigns in schools and public spaces.
Programme officer Nimaa Adan said the project is designed to clean the town while giving young people economic alternatives that shield them from drug abuse and illegal migration.
County leaders welcomed the effort, with Education Executive Ahmed Wardere describing it as vital for both public health and youth empowerment. “It creates jobs, reduces drug use, and protects young people from trafficking networks,” he noted.
For the youth, the project has come as a timely lifeline. “Plastic is a big problem in our town. We will clean Wajir, reduce environmental harm, and also earn from it,” said Shakil Mohamed Salah, vice chair of Ecofriendly Youth Group.
Others, like Abdi Adan from Hodan, see the effort as a long-term movement to restore Wajir’s image and promote climate awareness.
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According to the county’s 2023 Solid Waste Management Policy, Wajir produces about 4,000 tonnes of waste monthly, most of it poorly disposed of due to limited facilities. Plastic remains the most visible and damaging pollutant.
By combining environmental conservation with youth empowerment, the project seeks to restore dignity, curb unemployment, and give hope to a generation often at risk of drugs, trafficking, and despair.
Armed with garbage bags and determination, Wajir’s young people are now cleaning their town—and reshaping their future in the process.
