Dr. Tonny Omwansa, CEO, Kenya National Innovation Agency and Mr. Gordon Odundo, KCDF Board Vice Chair (holding the cheque), during the award of the finalists of the second edition of the KCDF Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge in Nairobi.
By Peace Muthoka.
Kenya National Innovation Agency CEO Dr. Tonny K. Omwansa on August 14,2025 hailed young innovators as key drivers of Kenya’s green transition, calling on stakeholders to back their ideas with resources, partnerships, and market access. Speaking during the Kenya Community Development Foundation’s (KCDF) Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge (YEIC) awards ceremony, Dr. Omwansa applauded the finalists for developing solutions that can compete on the global stage.
The second edition of the YEIC saw KSh 53 million awarded to twelve finalists ten youth-led community organisations and two individuals whose innovations address climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, waste management, and the circular economy. Selected from over 400 applicants, the winners include projects such as biodegradable leather, plastic-to-gas technologies, smart agriculture using Internet of Things tools, forest monitoring sensors, biogas storage systems, and democratized carbon credit platforms.
KCDF Vice Chair Gordon Odundo reaffirmed the foundation’s long-term commitment to supporting community-driven change. “Dream big. Make it happen. Together we can build resilience and ensure every community in Kenya thrives,” he said, adding that monetization and scalability are critical for sustaining innovation.
KCDF’s Team Lead for Programs, Emilly Omudho, noted that the challenge, which began in 2023, has grown stronger each year. “This year, we are separating innovations at idea, pilot, and scale-ready stages so that we can tailor technical support, linkages, and financing accordingly,” she explained. She also highlighted past successes, such as Farmer Lifeline, which has installed 65 crop-monitoring cameras benefiting 1,500 farmers, and EcoReach, which converts organic waste into fertilizer for over 10,000 farmers. Other success stories include Inua Dumpsite, which has improved livelihoods for 300 people, and Placom, which turns plastic waste into furniture.
The awards ceremony also marked the launch of the third edition of the YEIC under the theme “Scaling Innovations for Environmental Impact.” Applications are open until September 30, 2025, via the KCDF website, and the challenge will prioritise proven solutions ready for expansion.
“Every year, we learn and adapt to make the program stronger,” Ms. Omudho said. “We invite all environmental innovators across Kenya to submit their applications and help shape a sustainable future.”
