Lydia Katiba’s mission: A cleaner, greener Kenya

Lydia Katiba has one powerful mission: to clean her country.

It’s this deep conviction that led her to establish Friends of Creation, an environmental grassroots initiative in Kiambu county.

“Kenya can be clean. Kenya can be free of landfills. I wholeheartedly believe this,” she passionately tells the Star.

Her organisation brings innovative approach to waste disposal and environmental conservation.

One of the unique programmes it has initiated is working directly with grocers, popularly known as mama mboga.

Through this initiative, the organisation ensures the waste from the grocers is put to good use.

“Our goal is to ensure the waste they produce is recycled and turned into valuable products like manure. By collecting and processing the waste, we help them keep their businesses running smoothly,” Katiba says.

Friends of Creation is not just about waste collection, it is also a comprehensive approach to environmental conservation.

It focuses on waste segregation, risk management, environmental education and raising awareness about the dangers of burning waste.

The organisation also collects waste from homes and takes it to its sorting centre. Here, everything – from cardboard and plastic bottles to glass and metal – is carefully sorted and sent to various recycling partners.

“We transform the waste into new products. Cardboards are recycled to make cartons or egg trays, glass bottles become jars or staircases, and plastics are turned into recyclable materials,” she explains.

“Our mission is to teach the community how to be responsible with waste and show them the immense value in what they discard.”

The organisation runs an education centre where residents learn sustainable waste management practices.

Katiba and her team have launched the Eco Warrior programme, which partners with schools to engage students in environmental projects.

Students join Eco Warrior clubs, spearheading projects that address waste management, recycling and re-planting.

“We started by introducing kitchen gardens in schools, offering alternative to traditional lunch programmes. Before the school feeding programmes were provided by local governments, we already ensured children received healthy, balanced meals,” she said.

“It has been amazing to watch children take ownership of the initiative. They actively pick up litter and bring it to the recycling bins we have provided, making Tigoni one of the cleanest towns. At the end of the month, we weigh the collected waste and reward them with something special.”

The reward programme has encouraged schoolchildren to participate in waste management.

Teachers work alongside the organisation to address the specific needs of each school. 

The funds raised from recycling is often used to buy items schools need, such as doors or roofing. Katiba and her team have also been working to expand their reach by partnering with the community in cleanup drives.

They provide waste bins in public spaces to discourage littering and promote responsible disposal.

“The community has embraced these efforts. We recently organised a football tournament in Meru, involving several local teams, including Mazingira Camp. After the games, we planted trees. We have been undertaking similar activities in Machakos, where we have planted more than 7,000 trees in five years,” she said.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the project has been the socioeconomic impact on residents.

Katiba’s organisation has created an avenue for people to exchange their domestic waste for cash, creating an additional income stream for many.

She has also created employment for 20 people. Katiba’s passion for environmental conservation started when she was a child.

She was perturbed by the sight of trash piling up on streets. It is this early exposure to the country’s litter crisis that fuelled her desire to create lasting change.

“I’ve always struggled seeing people littering or piles of trash. That vision of a cleaner, healthier Kenya is what drives me every day,” she says, her voice full of hope.