This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
On June 27, the world celebrates Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day, a day to recognize the vital role these businesses play in addressing pressing global issues. One such entrepreneur is Leroy Mwasaru, a 22-year-old Kenyan who has made a significant impact in tackling deforestation.
At just 14, Mwasaru noticed a major problem at his boarding school in Kenya. Ageing pipes were leaking sewage directly into a nearby stream, which was a source of water for a neighboring community. Determined to make a change, Mwasaru and his classmates built a system that would turn human waste into energy.
After several prototypes, they developed a working model that powers the school. This success led Mwasaru to found Greenpact, a start-up that produces affordable, high-quality waste-to-energy systems known as biogas digesters. In 2018, Mwasaru became the youngest entrepreneur on the Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list.
Greenpact's systems are used by 15,000 Kenyans, converting household sewage into a gas that can be used for cooking. This innovation has reduced the need for firewood, a leading cause of deforestation in Kenya, which has lost over a third of its forest cover in the last 60 years.
"Our goal is to become the leading provider of biogas energy solutions across Africa," says Mwasaru, who aims to make the systems available to farmers, institutions, and children's homes.
Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, Mwasaru remains committed to his mission. He is now teaming with his mother, a fashion designer, to produce face masks for hospitals and clinics. Once the pandemic has passed, he plans to expand Greenpact into the restaurant business, helping urban eateries use organic waste to generate power.
"We Africans need to solve our problems ourselves," Mwasaru says. "And by doing this, I hope to inspire youth to value their environment and think of ways to save it."
"These people can now cook without having to use firewood or charcoal, all of which are harmful to their health and the environment," says Mwasaru. "By using clean and renewable energy, we are taking steps towards a better environment. And every little step counts."
