Cleaning Up Meru: Youth-Led Solutions to Waste Management at Gakoromone Market
At the bustling heart of Meru County lies Gakoromone Market, a vibrant hub of activity and commerce.
However, behind this bustling scene lies a growing concern – improper waste management. Recognising this urgent need for change, two passionate Kenya Methodist University students, Dorcas Ouru Bosibori and Ashley Kamau, conducted their research into the area’s waste challenges and propose solutions. Their research, part of the Acclimatise (African COIL on Climate Change and Sustainability Education – www.aclimatise.org), sheds light on the harsh realities of municipal waste disposal in Meru, the root causes of systemic failure and how to forge a path towards a cleaner, greener future. Their research combines data-driven analysis with community engagement and a deep-rooted desire to promote environmental justice. This clip captures some of the researchers’ engagement with communities and stakeholders [https://youtube.com/shorts/pIZ2Ac59CdU]
The Challenge at Hand: Meru’s Waste Crisis
With around 25 tonnes of waste produced daily, Meru Municipality is facing an increasingly waste crisis, characterised by inadequate waste collection, widespread littering and overloaded disposal systems. According to the 2019 Solid Waste Management Policy, only 60% of this waste is collected properly, leaving major gaps in sustainability efforts. Ashley and Dorcas focused on Gakoromone Market, Meru’s busiest trading hub, where trash overflows, drainage systems are blocked, and garbage collection is irregular. Through on-the-ground surveys and interviews, they gained a clear understanding of the broken waste management system that is in urgent need of reform. 
Contextualizing the Waste Crisis
Dorcas and Ashley started by familiarising themselves with the global and local waste management frameworks. They explored the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) and Kenya’s Solid Waste Management (SWM) policy, finding inspiration as well as gaps in both. A review of the literature revealed that, although Meru has adopted formal waste management frameworks, enforcement and community participation remain weak.
Surveying the Community
Armed with clipboards and posters, Ashley and Dorcas set out to speak to vendors, traders and a waste collector at Gakoromone Market. Their survey revealed that 88.9% felt there weren’t enough bins and that almost half of those surveyed admitted to dumping waste on the ground. Although 66.7% had heard of waste segregation, none of them practised it. Nevertheless, more than 50% said they would join clean-up efforts if they received more support. The responses painted a picture of frustration and neglect, but also offered a glimmer of hope for change if the right structures were in place. 
A Call to Action
Ashley and Dorcas didn’t just identify the problem; they also offered simple, people-focused solutions. These included placing bins every 500 metres, launching waste education initiatives in schools and markets, and introducing colour-coded bins to make sorting easier. They also recommended collecting waste every two to three days and imposing stricter fines for littering, enforced by a trained and accountable task force.
A Cleaner Future Starts Now
CESDA is proud to celebrate the achievements of Ashley and Dorcas, who took a hands-on approach to solving what seemed like an insurmountable problem. Their commitment to active listening, careful observation, and providing bespoke solutions shows that young researchers are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the leaders of today. Their work shows that the most effective solutions often start small (on a local market level, develop through a few conversations and require a great deal of dedication.
initiatives rooted in local contexts. One such promising researcher is Joyce Kopejo Naserian, a Kenyatta University student whose recent research project, titled ‘Combating Climate Change Through Organic Farming’, showcases the potential of grassroots environmental stewardship. By carrying out immersive fieldwork at Bomanoma Eco-Lodge and Charis Demonstration Farm as part of the the 12-week Acclimatise (
Joyce visited two renowned organic farms in Kenya.
Both farms served as learning centres, hosting weekly workshops and training sessions for local farmers, young people, and community members. These sessions combined theory with practical demonstrations to ensure that organic practices were adopted and replicated, not just studied.





