Edith Matiagi

Kenyan environmental entrepreneur transforming waste into sustainable building materials

Edith Matiagi - Turning Trash into Treasure

Edith Matiagi (b. 1989) is the founder of Gjenge Makers, a Nairobi-based company pioneering the conversion of plastic waste into affordable construction materials. Starting in 2015 with just 5 employees, her enterprise has diverted over 2,000 tons of plastic from landfills while creating thousands of jobs in East Africa. Through innovative compression technology, Gjenge Makers produces eco-friendly paving stones and furniture that outperform traditional materials in durability tests. This social enterprise model has inspired similar initiatives across 14 African nations.

Matigi's vision extends beyond business - her company website details community programs training marginalized youth in waste management and manufacturing. In 2020, her work earned recognition from the UN Environment Programme as a 'Circular Economy Champion'. By addressing both environmental degradation and unemployment, her approach represents a paradigm shift in sustainable development strategies.