Kenya Eyes $700 Million Economic Opportunity in Waste as Invest Kenya Launches Circular Economy Prospectus
New investment guide aims to unlock private capital in one of the country's fastest-growing green sectors
Invest Kenya has launched a landmark investment prospectus positioning the country’s waste management crisis as a major economic opportunity, with the potential to unlock over $700 million in value and contribute approximately 0.5% to Kenya’s GDP by 2030.
The document, titled Waste Management and Circular Economy: Investment Pathways and Opportunities in Kenya, was unveiled at the Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO) during the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative forum, where policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and development partners gathered to explore circular economy solutions.
Kenya currently generates roughly 22,000 tonnes of waste daily, yet only around 4% is recycled, a gap that the prospectus argues represents a significant untapped economic resource. By recovering value across five key sectors, the report projects that Kenya can create new industries, strengthen manufacturing supply chains, and cut reliance on imported raw materials.
The prospectus was developed in collaboration with global system change advisory firm Systemiq, law firm ALN Kenya, and TakaTaka Ni Mali, a tech-enabled social enterprise in the waste sector. It highlights investment opportunities expected to materialise over the next three to seven years, with a focus on where private capital can drive scalable results.
Kenya already has a growing ecosystem of more than 120 circular economy businesses operating across the value chain. The report is intended to address a longstanding barrier to investment: fragmented information about the sector and limited visibility of emerging businesses and projects.
Invest Kenya CEO John Mwendwa pointed to strong momentum following the conference’s opening, noting that $2.9 billion in investments had already been announced. He added that Invest Kenya is accelerating a Project Preparation Facility to develop bankable, investment-ready projects, while expanding de-risking instruments including guarantees, blended finance, and risk-sharing mechanisms.
The launch is backed by a more favourable policy environment, including the Sustainable Waste Management Act and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks, which advocates say are helping attract private capital into the sector.
Speaking during the closing of KIICO, Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki underscored the broader continental stakes, noting that Africa holds nearly 40% of the world’s renewable energy potential but received only about 2% of global renewable energy investment over the past decade. He pointed to the 2023 Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change as a foundation for African leaders to convert climate commitments into concrete investment.
“Investors are looking for destinations that combine sustainability, competitiveness, and long-term growth,” Prof. Kindiki said. “In this emerging global order, we see this as Africa’s moment.”
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