A Naivasha-based social enterprise has been shortlisted as one of the 30 startups from across to win 1 million dollars in the Chivas Regal Venture competition.
Sanivation will represent Kenya against startups from six other countries in the global finals to be held in Los Angeles later this year.
The start-up was selected for its innovative sanitary solution where they install toilets in homes for a monthly subscription fee then recycle the waste to make affordable charcoal briquettes.
The judges felt that Sanivation is a scalable social impact business and addressed huge health and environmental challenges that are currently facing millions of people all over the world.
Dickson Ochieng, Director of Government Relations, says Sanivation was founded after a realization that sanitation is a crisis in Kenya with statistics showing that seven out of ten people lack access to a toilet and also that 95 percent of faecal sludge is disposed into the environment without treatment.
“We are honored to be Kenya’s Finalist for The Venture Competition. At Sanivation, we work hard to provide cost-effective sanitation services to realize sustainability in urbanizing communities. Should we win the global competition, we will scale our work and reach 1 million people over the next five years, help tackle the sanitation crisis in Kenya and shift the paradigm about sanitation” said Ochieng.
Ahead of the global final, the competitors will take part in the Chivas The Venture Accelerator Week hosted at the University of Oxford by The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship.
Embedded within the world-renowned Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, The Skoll Centre has created an inspirational and transformative programme featuring opportunities for the finalists to develop leadership skills, take part in practical workshops and be inspired by global experts on critical topics that affect social enterprises.
By KEN MACHARIA
Feature Photo: Denis Ochanine, Managing Director, Pernod Ricard Kenya poses with Dickson Ochieng of Sanivation alongside two of the judges, Jessica Francisca Colaço and Mikul Shah
