NAIROBI, Kenya- M-Taka, a trailblazing social enterprise, is rewriting the story of waste management in Kenya by turning everyday trash into a source of income for local communities.
Powered by a user-friendly app, M-Taka is not only tackling pollution but also creating job opportunities and empowering marginalized groups.
With a growing list of awards, including the prestigious Presidential Innovation Award from the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), M-Taka is paving the way for sustainable change across the region.
At the heart of M-Taka’s impact is its flagship app, which enables community members to manage and monetize their waste.
Through a seamless process, users can deliver their waste to verified agents or buy-back centers, earning either cash payments or points that accumulate for product purchases.
For thousands of Kenyans, this means that recycling is no longer just about sustainability; it’s about financial empowerment.
The platform also has a social mission at its core: providing critical support to waste workers—particularly vulnerable youth and street workers—by connecting them with services in healthcare, education, and financial literacy.
This comprehensive approach is redefining the role of waste management as both an environmental and social solution.
In addition, the platform has reported impressive progress, with a 31pc increase in plastic waste collection and a 57pc improvement in waste separation at source, proving the model’s effectiveness.
M-Taka’s success is closely linked to its partnerships, particularly with the Kisumu County Government.
Founder Benson Abila explains that the enterprise has invested in value addition at its Maendeleo Recovery Facility, a Public-Private Partnership with Kisumu County.
This facility processes materials collected from agents, creating value-added products that fetch better prices. “Our goal is to add value and boost local income by purchasing processed materials at competitive rates,” says Abila.
The enterprise has also teamed up with Ondiek Tentop Youth Group, mobilizing efforts to raise awareness about waste management in communities.
According to Fred Misach, chairman of Ondiek Tentop, the collaboration helps keep track of recyclables from households, encouraging source-level separation and making recycling easier for everyone.
M-Taka’s innovative approach hasn’t gone unnoticed. In addition to winning KeNIA’s Presidential Innovation Award in 2024, the platform was also a runner-up in the 2023 Circular Economy Award and a finalist in the Afri-Plastics Challenge.
Beyond awards, M-Taka’s impact is tangible: the enterprise has empowered over 4,000 community members, trained more than 200 agents, and created 180 local jobs, underscoring its role as a change agent in Kenya’s waste management landscape.
By turning waste into opportunity, M-Taka is proving that sustainable business can drive both economic growth and environmental protection—a powerful model for the future.
