M-taka signs MoU with Vihiga County to champion sustainable waste management

KENYA – Waste management start-up M-taka has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the County Government of Vihiga, marking a significant step toward sustainable waste management in Kenya’s Nyanza and Western region.

The MoU, signed in a ceremony graced by Governor H.E. Dr. Wilber K. Ottichilo, E.G.H., Deputy Governor Wilberforce Kitiezo, and CECM Dr. Jairus B. Amayi (Environment, Water, Energy, Natural Resources & Climate Change), formalizes a partnership aimed at digitizing waste systems, empowering local entrepreneurs, and strengthening circular economy practices across the county.

Governor Ottichilo underscored the urgency of moving swiftly from agreement to action, highlighting the economic and social potential embedded in waste management.

“Waste is wealth,” he told stakeholders, calling on his administration to fully harness M-taka’s expertise.

He stressed that beyond cleaner environments, the initiative is expected to create hundreds of jobs, particularly for the youth, while transforming public perceptions of waste as a resource.

Digitizing waste ecosystems

M-taka, which has been pioneering technology-driven waste management solutions in Kenya, will deploy its digital platform in Vihiga to streamline collection, tracking, and recycling.

The solution is designed to connect households, waste entrepreneurs, and recyclers, while promoting segregation at source and enabling real-time monitoring of waste flows.

According to M-taka, this digitization not only ensures accountability but also integrates informal waste pickers into the formal economy, enhancing their earning potential and social inclusion.

The partnership comes at a time when Kenya is intensifying efforts to implement the Sustainable Waste Management Act of 2022, which enshrines the “polluter pays” principle and emphasizes private-sector participation in the waste value chain.

Vihiga’s collaboration with M-taka positions the county as an early adopter of innovative waste solutions aligned with national sustainability goals.

Dr. Amayi said the county is keen to promote circular economy initiatives, including recycling, waste-to-energy, and composting, while reducing reliance on landfills.

“This partnership will help us unlock both environmental benefits and economic opportunities for our people,” he noted.

Community empowerment

M-taka CEO, Benson Abila, expressed gratitude for the county’s trust, emphasizing that the initiative is as much about community empowerment as it is about sustainability.

“We are co-creating solutions with Vihiga to turn waste into value, improving livelihoods, protecting the environment, and inspiring behavior change,” he said.

With the MoU in place, M-taka and Vihiga County are expected to roll out public sensitization campaigns, capacity-building for waste entrepreneurs, and investment in new recycling infrastructure in the coming months.

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