Kenya: Waste Crisis & Disease

Transforming Waste Management and Reducing Diseases in Kenya with Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae

In South Coastal Kenya, unmanaged organic waste fuels a dual public health crisis: diarrheal diseases spread through contaminated environments, while stagnant waste creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry diseases like dengue. At the same time, inefficiencies in the food system mean nearly 40% of food is lost before it is ever consumed. The waste problem is not just environmental, but presents both a public health challenge, and a missed opportunity for local economies.

In partnership with the Health and Environmental Research Institute-Kenya (HERI) and the Diani Sustainability Collective, DECO is piloting an innovative, nature-based solution: farming the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens). These insects can transform food waste into high-value resources, like nutrient-rich fertilizer and protein for animal feed, while eliminating the unsanitary conditions that drive disease transmission. 

Black Soldier Fly farming addresses the root causes of this public health crisis, rather than just the symptoms. By converting waste that would otherwise go unmanaged, it improves sanitation, reduces disease risk, recovers value from food loss, and creates new income streams for local farmers. By pairing ecological innovation with local leadership, communities most burdened by poor sanitation and food insecurity become the stewards, and economic beneficiaries, of the solution. 

With support from an SDSS Engagement Grant, the project is expanding its reach through workshops, community engagement, and capacity-building for circular economy initiatives, bringing together social scientists, local partners, policymakers, and philanthropists to strengthen impact. The program also invests in education and engagement by developing training curricula, school materials, and creative outreach tools, ensuring the spread of knowledge and practices across generations. 

Rooted in women's leadership, the model empowers communities to grow sustainable businesses that link environmental stewardship with economic opportunity. 

This project aims to scale community adoption, deepen evidence on disease suppression and climate benefits, and engage policymakers and partners across Kenya. Through this approach, DECO is demonstrating how circular economy solutions can simultaneously protect public health, strengthen local economies, and build long-term resilience.

Team

Desiree LaBeaud, Samantha Bunke, Amelia Meyer, Francis Mutuku, Juma Nasoro

Partners 

_{Image Credit: Heri-Kenya}