Kenyan waste powers green energy

Human waste in Kenya's Kibera slum is being transformed into biogas, addressing sanitation issues and providing green energy. Initiatives are newly supported by the Health Ministry, Umande Trust and the French Development Agency. Nine local centres use bio-digester systems to treat waste and produce biogas, providing clean toilets and fuel for cooking.The community benefits economically from the sale of biogas and collects small fees for using bio centre toilets.

• Continuous awareness campaigns by Umande Trust help educate the community on the benefits and safety of biogas.

• Proper sanitation and biogas production help reduce the use of what are known as “flying toilets" and open defecation. Better health and environmental conditions are the result.

• Access to clean water for bio centres remains a challenge, impacting operational costs.

• Poor sanitation is estimated to reduce the global economy by $235 billion annually, highlighting the need for collective efforts and achieve Sustainable Development Goals for clean water and sanitation by 2030.

• Africa's growing urban population continually pushes up the demands for innovative sanitation solutions, with biogas production from human waste being one such approach.