On August 14, 2025, the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) awarded a total of Ksh 53 million in grants to ten community organizations and two individuals to support their innovative initiatives in environmental sustainability and conservation. The recipients were the finalists of the second edition of the Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge (YEIC), a KCDF initiative that empowers action-oriented youth and youth-led organizations committed to environmental conservation with the support of philanthropic funders.
The successful grantees included MOMA Renewable Energy (Kisii), Vermi-Farm Initiative Limited (Meru), M-taka Waste Solutions Limited (Kisumu), Eco Nasi Limited (Machakos), Timao Group (Nairobi), Megagas Alternative Energy Enterprise LTD (Nairobi), Pollen Patrollers Limited (Kiambu), Zalika Greentech Limited (Nairobi), Adumu Limited (Nairobi), CropScan Smart Farming Technologies (Nairobi), alongside individual innovators Erick Sankale Olkiado and Nthuku Mumo Osoro.
The awardees were selected after a rigorous vetting process, during which a panel of judges reviewed more than 400 applications submitted following the launch of the second edition of YEIC in June 2024. Their projects introduced groundbreaking solutions ranging from clean energy alternatives such as bioethanol and plastic-to-gas technologies, to smart agriculture powered by artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, circular economy innovations like biodegradable leather and recycled construction materials, and climate technologies including forest monitoring sensors, biogas storage, and democratized carbon credit platforms.
These innovations not only demonstrate strong environmental impact but also show high potential for scalability, community engagement, and economic empowerment. KCDF’s financial support will enable the awardees to advance green and digital transformation in Kenya, further strengthening the role of youth-led innovation in driving the country’s green transition.
At the event, KCDF also unveiled the third edition of YEIC under the theme “Scaling Innovations for Environmental Impact.” This new phase of the challenge emphasizes supporting solutions that have already shown success at the community level and are now ready for expansion. It will prioritize innovations in areas such as climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, ecosystem restoration, and the circular economy. Targeting youth between 15 and 35 years, the initiative continues to position young innovators at the forefront of Kenya’s environmental sustainability efforts. The launch event was graced by Dr. Tonny K. Omwansa, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Innovation Agency, who served as the Chief Guest.
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