Phyllis Omido

A Kenyan environmental activist who led a grassroots campaign to shut down a toxic lead smelter, safeguarding her community from severe pollution.

Phyllis Omido: Champion of Environmental Justice

Phyllis Omido is a Kenyan environmental activist and founder of the Inclusive Planet Campaign, best known for her successful campaign to close the Acorn Holding lead smelter in Mombasa. In 2017, she discovered the plant was emitting dangerous levels of lead, contaminating water supplies and poisoning over 300 children in her community. Despite threats and legal battles, she mobilized residents through social media and grassroots organizing, ultimately forcing the factory's closure in 2018.

Her efforts led to the creation of Kenya's first National Lead Management Strategy. Omido continues advocating for environmental justice through her organization Inclusive Planet, which trains communities on pollution detection and sustainable practices. She was awarded the Greenpeace Award in 2020 for her work.

Omido's story highlights the power of community-led environmental action. Her TEDx talk "The Mother of Mombasa" has inspired global audiences, emphasizing how local activism can drive systemic change. She collaborates with UN agencies and NGOs to expand access to clean water and safe sanitation across East Africa.