In Kisumu City’s informal settlements—where access to formal waste services is patchy and rivers have long served as dumpsites—change is quietly taking root.
The Clean Rivers, Clean Homes initiative is transforming the way waste is managed in the city’s poorest areas. Over the past six months, thousands of residents in neighbourhoods like Nyalenda, Manyatta and Obunga have begun sorting waste at home, informal waste collectors have received business training, and the once-choked River Auji is beginning to flow cleaner again.
“What we’re seeing in Kisumu is the power of partnership in action,” said Akinyi Walender, Africa Director for Practical Action. “None of this would be possible without the commitment of informal waste workers, government actors, local youth groups, and community members working together.”
The initiative—working closely with the County Government of Kisumu, local waste groups, and informal recyclers—has already distributed 4,000 colour-coded bins to 2,000 households. Waste collectors, once working under threat of arrest, are now being formally recognised for their essential role in environmental management.
The project is also quietly reshaping the city’s waste economy. A new mobile app is allowing waste groups to log data in real time, capturing over 40,000 kg of segregated waste in recent months. Marketing support and training provided to 250 waste workers and seven traders have further improved incomes and livelihoods, especially among women.
“When we work together, waste becomes opportunity,” Akinyi added. “Working with Riviera Travel, we are already creating lasting solutions for waste management in Kisumu.”
From digital tools to community clean-up drives, the project has modelled how inclusive, locally driven approaches can advance environmental justice—and a circular economy—where it’s needed most.
So far, the project has:
- Distributed 4,000 waste bins to 2,000 households
- Trained 250 informal waste workers and 7 waste traders
- Tracked 40,000 kg of waste through our digital system
- Supported community-led clean-ups and campaigns
- Helped secure recognition for informal waste workers from Kisumu authorities
The project started in 2024. Riviera Travel support the project by donating £2 for every passenger that books a holiday to Practical Action, an increase from £1 in 2024. Find out more about the Clean Rivers, Clean Homes initiative.