Waste Free Waterways

Water pollution is a significant global issue affecting both human health and the environment. It stems from various sources, including industrial and agricultural waste, sewage, and oil spills, leading to contaminated drinking water, ecosystem damage, and health problems. 

In Nakuru, Kenya, one of the biggest contributors to water pollution is improper waste disposal.

The rapid population growth has outpaced infrastructure, with Only about 20% of residents in areas like Naivasha disposing their waste correctly; the rest rely on manual disposal, which often results to having waste disposed openly in the environment, the drainage system and the lake. This affects both human health, the environment and the lake's ecological integrity.

Nakuru rivers, drainage channels, and lakeshores are under increasing pressure from poor waste disposal practices. Uncollected garbage, plastic pollution, and weak waste management systems have resulted in widespread water contamination, threatening biodiversity, public health, and livelihoods dependent on clean water. Women, youth, and marginalized groups often suffer the greatest impacts of pollution, yet they remain underrepresented in environmental decision-making. There is a need for community-driven solutions that reduce waste while building inclusive leadership in water and climate action

About The Project

The waste free waterways initiative is a community driven project based in Nakuru, Kenya, dedicated to reduce plastic and solid waste pollution in rivers, lakes and the environment. The project focuses on empowering women, youths, schools and households to adopt sustainable waste management practices while protecting the ecosystem and improving community livelihood.

Our goal is to protect and restore lakes in Nakuru, Kenya by eliminating plastic and solid waste pollution through community education on ways of minimizing waste in the environment, promoting recycling and reuse of waste and composting of organic waste.

The Focus

The project focuses on three categories:- Removing plastic and solid waste from waterways, Capacity building on waste management and water protection, Empowering women and youth to lead green solutions and create sustainable livelihood

The Objective

Establish sustainable waste collection systems at the household and community level.

Mobilize communities through monthly clean-up drives targeting lakeshores, drainage channels, and markets. Build awareness and capacity on waste management, recycling, and water rights through advocacy campaigns. Empower women as decision-makers in water and climate action through training, mentorship, and the Women and Water Circle. Engage schools and youth in long-term behavioural change through a Waste-Free Schools Challenge and tree planting activities.

Activities

• Household Garbage Collection - Provide garbage bags, collect household waste on designated days, and promote proper disposal.

• Monthly Cleanup Drives - Organize community clean-ups across key hotspots in different areas (lakeshores, drainage channels, markets). Engage different schools and youths in planting trees, recycling of waste and promoting anti-littering culture

• Community Advocacy and Awareness Campaigns - Hold community dialogues and train local champions on waste sorting and recycling.

• Train women in water rights, waste management, advocacy, kitchen gardening, and composting.

• Create safe spaces for women to participate in environmental leadership.

Scope Activities

The project will conduct awareness campaigns on proper waste disposal, establish community waste collection and recycling points, organize monthly clean-up drives targeting rivers, drainage channels, and public spaces, train community volunteers and local leaders on sustainable waste management, engage stakeholders, including the County Government, NGOs, schools, and local businesses to support project goals, carry out pre and post-project waste audits to measure impact.

Expected Outcomes

• More waste collected and safely disposed.

• More community members actively engaged in waste reduction activities.

• More women trained in composting, kitchen gardening, waste and water management.

• Increased awareness on water rights, waste management, and recycling.

Measurable Outcomes

• At least 80% of targeted households demonstrate improved knowledge of proper waste disposal methods by the end of the year.

• A minimum of 1000 community members actively participate in the monthly clean up campaigns by the end of the year.

• Plastic waste entering Naivasha waterways reduced by 40% within the year, measured through pre and post project waste audit.

• Reduced cases of waterborne diseases by 25% within the year, based on data from local health facilities.

• At least 50 women trained in composting, kitchen gardening, waste and water management.

• Increased awareness on water rights, waste management, and recycling which will done through pre and post training surveys.

Beneficiaries

• Primary Beneficiaries: Women, youth, and persons with disabilities in Nakuru.

• Secondary Beneficiaries: Local schools, households, markets, and the broader community that benefits from cleaner waterways and improved environmental health.

Monitoring & Evaluation

Indicators:

• Number of clean-ups conducted within the year.

• Amount of waste collected and disposed of (minimum 5 tons).

• Number of households reached through collection.

• Number of women trained in leadership, water rights, and conservation.

  
  

Methods:

• Attendance and participation records.

• Waste collection logs and visual documentation.

• Pre- and post-training surveys.

• Quarterly project review meetings.

Conclusion

Waste Free Waterways is more than a clean-up project it is a community movement. By combining waste reduction, women’s empowerment, youth engagement, and advocacy, the initiative will help reduce plastics and waste in the environment which will intern create cleaner waterways and a healthier, more resilient community.