On the shimmering shores of Lake Victoria, the city of Kisumu is undergoing a quiet revolution. One did not lead by bulldozers or billion-dollar pipelines, but by a network of small sanitation businesses that are redefining what progress looks like in Africa’s growing cities.
In communities often bypassed by traditional infrastructure, a new force is filling the gap: local entrepreneurs who see opportunity in the overlooked and dignity in the essential. Armed with desludging pumps, composting toilets, and an eye for business, these sanitation-focused small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are reshaping how basic services reach the people who need them most.
At the heart of this shift is a simple but powerful idea: that small businesses are not just service providers, but catalysts of systemic change.
The rise of the sanitation entrepreneur
For many of Kisumu’s residents, particularly in densely populated informal settlements, reliable sanitation does not come with a flush. Sewer connections remain rare, and infrastructure investments, when they arrive, move slowly. In this gap, sanitation SMEs have emerged as a lifeline. These businesses offer vital services yet often invisible: pit emptying, container-based sanitation, waste transport, and even on-site processing of organic waste. But like many small enterprises in emerging markets, they face steep barriers such as limited access to finance, inconsistent income, and a lack of recognition in public service delivery.
What sets Kisumu apart is how these obstacles are being overcome. Rather than viewing these entrepreneurs as fringe actors, partners like WSUP are investing in their growth. Through a market-based approach, the focus has shifted from charity to capacity, from short-term fixes to long-term viability.
A model for sustainable growth
Over the past two years, targeted interventions have helped transform Kisumu’s sanitation SMEs from under-resourced hustlers into structured, service-oriented businesses. The strategy centres on three pillars: training, finance, and formalisation.
First, entrepreneurs are trained in the fundamentals of running a business, including customer service, fiscal management, and health and safety. Practical skills are emphasised, particularly for pit emptiers who operate in high-risk environments with minimal resources. By professionalising the workforce, the sector not only improves in safety and reliability, but also gains public trust.
Second, access to capital is opened. Through partnerships with local financial institutions, SMEs receive support in securing small loans for essential equipment such as desludging pumps, branded uniforms, and safety gear. These seemingly modest investments significantly enhance service delivery and business credibility.
Third, formal links with government and utilities are forged. SMEs are now integrated into Kisumu’s broader sanitation ecosystem, with formal licenses, service agreements, and participation in public-private coordination forums. This legitimacy gives them stability and a seat at the table.
Community-level change, business-led solutions.
The results ripple far beyond business growth. Cleaner streets and healthier environments reduce the risk of disease. Affordable services mean that low-income households no longer have to rely on unsafe, informal alternatives. And entrepreneurs who once worked under the radar now operate with pride, hire locally, and contribute to the local economy.
Sanitation, long considered a public burden, is becoming a local enterprise and a force for empowerment.
Companies like Mayaya Waste Management Services exemplify this new wave. Specialising in waste collection, sanitation infrastructure, and the use of biodigester technology, Mayaya operates with a blend of environmental awareness and community collaboration. Its work converts organic waste into biogas and fertiliser, closing the loop between sanitation and sustainability. The shift is not just functional. It is cultural. Sanitation work, often stigmatised, is gaining respect. Workers now wear branded uniforms and operate with structure, discipline, and pride.
From Kisumu to the world: a blueprint for SDG 6
Kisumu’s model offers a glimpse into what the future of urban sanitation could look like, not only in Kenya but across the Global South. It reinforces a growing understanding in the development world that small businesses are not a footnote in the sanitation story. They are central characters.
And while the tools may be basic, the outcomes are profound. Jobs are created. Lives are protected. Cities become more livable. All through the ingenuity of local actors who simply needed training, trust, and a bit of capital to unlock their potential.
In a world seeking scalable, climate-smart, and inclusive solutions, the story of sanitation SMEs in Kisumu is not just a success. It is a signal. When investment meets innovation at the grassroots, progress does not trickle down. It rises.