Community Engagement and Clean Up - Ngong Rivers
On 20 November 2023, gumboots won the fashion vote along the Ngong River — mud climbing ankles, rake teeth biting plastic, someone laughing because the alternative was crying.
ETCO worked alongside Power Engineers, Ecologists Without Borders (EcoWB), the German Embassy through UN‑Habitat, the Nairobi Rivers Commission, local groups, and Nairobi Governor’s “Green Army.” Chiefs showed up — Madam Elizabeth led three chiefs — alongside the Assistant County Commissioner, putting administrative weight behind community sweat.
What we moved
Three hundred and twenty people were sensitised; one hundred and five joined the clean‑up hands‑on. Two hundred and fifty metres of riverbank were cleared. The scales told the blunt story: 3.4 tonnes of wet waste and 0.23 tonnes of dry waste — bags dragged uphill, flies defeated temporarily, dignity restored a little.
Drainage is not glamorous policy; it is whether your child can walk to school without wading through filth. Conversations like this matter because they connect symptoms — flooding, smell, disease — to systems that can change.
The Green Army’s presence mattered — not as spectacle, but as proof that city leadership can show up beside residents instead of only speaking about them.
When the bags were counted and the bank looked steeper, nobody pretended the river was “fixed.” We simply left clearer than we found — and more awake to what must come next.
We are grateful to everyone who came and to those who cheered from afar. Rivers need repeat visitors, not one‑day heroes. Stay close for the next outing — #LetTheRiversFlow — and help us keep partners at the table.
From Participation to Agency: ETCO at the SAIIA Youth Programming Innovation Lab
Last week, ETCO represented Kibra at the SAIIA Youth Programming Innovation Lab in Nairobi — where the real question wasn't youth participation, but youth agency. Here's what that means for our nine programmes, and an honest look at what it takes to build sustainably as a volunteer-run organisation.
Creating Impact, Building a Better Tomorrow
At ETCO, we're committed to creating lasting positive impact by keeping our environment safe and clean while creating meaningful employment opportunities for our communities. Through innovation and strategic partnerships with like-minded stakeholders, we're working together to achieve shared goals that drive sustainable development. We're also conducting a comprehensive economic survey to better understand the project's returns, impact, and scalability—ensuring every step we take is informed, effective, and built for long-term success.
Planning Meeting with PSN - Waste Management Project
Today's ETCO had logistical planning meeting at PSN Office to discuss the upcoming waste management project... Good things take time.