In the bustling heart of Kisumu, where the challenges of sanitation and environmental degradation loom large, a local enterprise is rewriting the narrative of waste. Saniwise Technology, a beacon of innovation, is converting plastic refuse into affordable toilets, addressing a critical need while simultaneously tackling pollution. But Saniwise’s ambitions don’t stop there.
The company has pioneered a circular economy model that transforms toilet waste into a valuable resource: black soldier fly larvae, a protein-rich feed for poultry. And in an even more novel twist, Saniwise is producing bricks from used menstrual products collected from schools and government offices.
However, Saniwise’s promising technology required more than just ingenuity to scale up its impact. What the company needed was branding support and capacity-building. Enter WSUP, a non-profit dedicated to bringing water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to urban areas. With a modest investment of $206 from WSUP, Saniwise was able to brand its service trucks and receive ongoing training in faecal sludge management. The assistance has proven pivotal, bolstering Saniwise’s operational capacity and expanding its reach.
“Before our joint efforts with WSUP, the sanitation landscape in many low-income areas had limited access to clean and durable toilet facilities,” says Ms. Vera Ouko, Director of Saniwise. “Existing toilets were often poorly maintained, and many resorted to ‘flying toilets’,” she explained, referring to the unsanitary practice of disposing of waste in plastic bags. “At the same time, the massive buildup of plastic waste in these areas posed an environmental hazard, with few systems in place for recycling.”
But now, Ms. Ouko says, Saniwise has been empowered to show the world that waste can be valuable. “We are creating jobs, protecting the environment, and feeding the future,” she said.
The company’s innovative approach has already yielded tangible results, with demand for its toilets and larvae steadily increasing. To date, Saniwise has sold 15 toilets and over 200 kilograms of larvae.
Looking ahead, Saniwise aims to expand its brick production using recycled menstrual products, with plans to reach 30 secondary schools in Kisumu by 2025. The company also aims to process 100,000 tons of plastic waste annually by 2025, creating a cleaner environment and more green jobs.
This work was funded by the UN’s Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF), highlighting the growing recognition of the role that local innovation can play in addressing global challenges.