YOUNG INNOVATORS & ENTERPRISE PLATFORM | CASE STUDY

From banana waste to enterprise. 🍌♻️

Yesterday, we visited Ziada Solutions in Riata, Mboghoni Ward, Taveta—a youth-led circular banana value-addition enterprise turning banana waste into biogas, organic fertiliser, fibre, ropes, flour, table mats and carpets.

From 7 to 11 employees, improved portable machinery, to a two-year school feeding initiative at Kitobo Comprehensive School, Ziada demonstrates what is possible when innovation meets opportunity, mentorship and market linkages.

The journey that began with a 2023 engagement with H.E. Deputy Governor Christine Saru Kilalo and subsequent institutional and market linkages continues to evolve.

We are documenting Ziada as a Young Innovators & Enterprise Platform Case Study as we identify and connect innovators across Taita Taveta's 20 wards.

Local innovation. Circular economy. Youth enterprise. Scalable impact.

#YoungInnovators #TTYA #CircularEconomy #BananaValueChain #YouthEnterprise #TaitaTaveta

Our Education & Research and Health & Wellbeing Sector Working Groups accompanied H.E. Deputy Governor Christine Saru Kilalo at Njukini Comprehensive School for a mentorship engagement with adolescent girls.

The programme brought together girls from Njukini, Ulawani, Chokaa, Lumi, and Sir Ransom Comprehensive Schools, alongside the distribution of sanitary towels to support menstrual health and dignity.

We believe that supporting the girl child goes beyond education—it is about confidence, dignity, health, retention in school, and creating opportunities for every girl to realise her potential.

We appreciate H.E. the Deputy Governor for championing initiatives that place the wellbeing and future of our girls at the centre of development.

When a girl is supported, a generation is strengthened.

Yesterday at the Voi Youth Empowerment Centre, we convened the YEA +254 Youth Empowerment Sensitisation Forum, creating a platform for young people to connect directly with institutions, access information, and explore available opportunities.

The youth had an opportunity to learn and engage with Taita Taveta County CCO for Trade Elizabeth Mbinga, NACADA, Ajira Digital, Uwezo Fund, and YEDF on enterprise, employment, digital opportunities, financial support, and youth development. The State Department for Youth Affairs also sensitised young people on the upcoming National Youth Council (NYC) Elections, emphasising the importance of informed participation and youth leadership.

We appreciate YEDF Taita Taveta County Coordinator Mr. Billington Muchiri for the engagement and the State Department for Youth Affairs for supporting platforms that bring government programmes and opportunities closer to young people. When young people are informed, connected, and empowered, they become active drivers of development—not passive recipients of it.

Yesterday, we brought together State Actors and Development Partners in the Waste Management Sector for a critical conversation on building a more sustainable and circular waste management system for Taita Taveta.

Graced by H.E. Deputy Governor Christine Saru Kilalo, Mwatate DCC Kennedy Lwenyi, NEMA Inspector Mr. Rashid, and Pwani Circular Economy Association.

Sustainable waste management requires more than policy—it requires coordination, partnership and collective action. The conversation continues. The opportunity is ours to build a cleaner, greener and economically inclusive Taita Taveta.

#KEPRO #TaitaTaveta #CircularEconomy #WasteManagement #GreenJobs

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Alongside the KEPRO team led by CEO James Odongo, we paid courtesy calls to H.E. Deputy Governor Christine Saru Kilalo and Mwatate DCC Kennedy Lwenyi. Building a sustainable waste management system requires dialogue, collaboration, and shared responsibility.

The conversation moves to State Actors and Waste Management Operators from across Taita Taveta County with a simple goal: turn waste challenges into opportunities for a cleaner, greener, and more circular county.