Nairobi Dam Waste Impact Tour
The water does not negotiate. Where it is blocked, it backs up; where waste piles, it stains everything downstream — homes, dreams, the quiet pride people hold for a neighbourhood the map often misreads. On this day, the Nairobi Rivers Commission, led by Chairperson Dr Pamela Olet, with Commissioners Dr Duncan Ojwang and Grace Messoppir, set out to see that truth up close.
They were joined by engineers from the Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute (SMEDI), by ETCO CEO Collince Onyango, by community leaders, and by representatives from the Ngong River Regeneration Network. The route read like a list of places Kibera carries in muscle memory: Area 51 at Sarang’ombe Bridge, Soweto West Bridge, Kibera South Hospital Bridge, and finally Nairobi Dam itself — each stop a different angle on the same crisis.
Before the tour, Dr Olet had flagged off the Climate Worx Mtaani initiative at the Kibra DC office — a signal that government intent and community labour would move on the same calendar, not in separate diaries. The day ended at the Nairobi Dam outlet in Nyayo Highrise, where the group stood with notebooks and phones, measuring impact not in speeches but in what waste does to people who live past the last bend.
We share this tour not for applause but for accountability. If you live along these tributaries, keep reporting what you see. If you can fund safe collection or youth wages, talk to us. The dam will not heal from shame alone — it needs money, design, and neighbours who refuse to look away.
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.