Nairobi City County officials trained on circular economy for sustainable waste management

KENYA – Nairobi City County Environment Officers have received essential training in circular economy and climate change adaptation to drive sustainable waste management and reduction across the city.

The training was conducted as part of the Circular Economy Innovation Clusters (CEIC) – Nairobi City County “Training the Trainers” initiative, organized by GrowthAfrica, a pan-African entrepreneur support organization, in collaboration with EIT Climate-KIC, Europe’s leading climate innovation agency, and funded by the IKEA Foundation.

Seventeen environment officers participated, gaining practical skills and tools to effectively implement circular economy practices and climate adaptation strategies.

With Nairobi producing over 2,400 tonnes of waste daily—much of which remains unmanaged—the city’s environmental officers are strategically positioned to impact waste reduction and sustainability.

The training equips them with the knowledge to translate circular economy concepts into practical, community-centred waste management solutions.

Christine Kivuva, Assistant Director of Environmental Monitoring, Compliance, and Enforcement at Nairobi City County Government, emphasized the importance of circularity in waste management, “Nairobi City County Government is committed to advancing circular practices and reinforcing compliance to build a sustainable city.

“This transition is a shared responsibility, and I urge all trained officers to become advocates of the circular economy. We can make significant strides toward a cleaner Nairobi by promoting waste separation at the source and other sustainable practices.”

GrowthAfrica’s Managing Director, Patricia Jumi, highlighted this initiative’s alignment with the organization’s commitment to sustainable development.

“This training is central to our mission to foster impactful partnerships and build a community of practitioners who view circular economy, climate change, and adaptation through a systems-thinking lens,” said Jumi.

“We’re proud to partner with Nairobi City County in building resilience, and we hope Nairobi will inspire other African cities in this endeavor.”

The training encompassed a deep dive into circularity principles, specifically the “10Rs”—a strategic framework encompassing Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle, and Recover—to minimize waste and optimize resource use.

The goal is for trained officers to share this expertise with others, creating a ripple effect of sustainable practices city-wide.

C40, a global network of cities tackling climate change, also participated. It presented organic waste management in markets and highlighted how cities, despite contributing to climate challenges, have solutions to mitigate them.

Kenya’s 3Es Experience also facilitated a hands-on “Climate Fresk on Climate Change” workshop, using interactive scenarios to help officials integrate circular economy insights into their daily operations.

GrowthAfrica is also implementing the Circular Economy ClimAccelerator program in Nairobi, which is supported by EIT Climate-KIC and funded by the IKEA Foundation.

This program supports 10 local businesses working toward circularity and 30 students and young professionals dedicated to innovating circular solutions to waste management in Nairobi County.

This collaborative effort represents a significant step towards achieving sustainable urban practices, as Nairobi seeks to enhance its resilience and inspire other African cities to adopt circular economy principles.

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