CEIC Connect Forum Champions Nairobi’s Transition To A Circular Economy

The Circular Economy Innovation Cluster (CEIC) Connect Forum brought together some of Nairobi’s most promising circular economy entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and policymakers — marking a major milestone in the city’s journey toward a systemic circular transformation.

The event showcased forward-thinking ventures redefining how resources move through Nairobi’s economy — turning waste into value, embedding social inclusion in business models, and proving that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.

Alongside the venture showcases, CEIC officially launched the Circular Venture Blueprint: ESO Principles, a practical guide co-created by 14 leading organisations from Bengaluru and Nairobi. The Blueprint is designed to strengthen support systems for circular ventures and accelerate the shift toward a regenerative economy.

Building an Innovation Cluster for Systemic Change

Since its inception in 2023, the CEIC programme has gone beyond supporting individual ventures — it has cultivated an innovation cluster to drive long-term, systemic change. Over the past three years, the programme has engaged entrepreneurs at various stages of growth, Enterprise Support Organisations (ESOs), and county officials through capacity building, stakeholder forums, and collaborative ecosystem initiatives.

“Here in Nairobi, we are witnessing entrepreneurs reimagine what’s possible even in cities where policies and infrastructure are built for linear economies,” said Patricia Jumi, Managing Director and Co-Founder of GrowthAfrica.

“CEIC has shown that building innovation clusters — rather than just supporting individual businesses — creates the conditions for real system change. We’ve seen ventures develop locally rooted solutions that address waste, resource efficiency, and social inclusion simultaneously. But true transformation happens when we reimagine how the entire ecosystem functions — how ESOs deliver support, how investors value circularity, and how policymakers enable, rather than hinder, circular progress. When these actors collaborate, system change becomes not only possible but inevitable.”

The forum spotlighted ventures working in waste management, renewable energy, sustainable food systems, and materials innovation — all of which benefited from CEIC’s targeted training in circular economy principles and entrepreneurship fundamentals. This support has enabled them to access new markets and integrate circular practices more deeply into their operations.

Launching the Circular Venture Blueprint: ESO Principles

One of the flagship outcomes of the CEIC programme is the Circular Venture Blueprint, which outlines three key principles for strengthening support to circular ventures:

Develop tailored circular economy capacities: Equip ventures to articulate their unique circular value in markets still structured for linear business models.

Build real ecosystem connections: Foster long-term partnerships across value chains — from suppliers and customers to informal workers and investors.

Turn monitoring into support: Use performance tracking as a tool for learning, adaptation, and shared ecosystem growth.

“One of the biggest challenges for circular ventures in cities like Nairobi is that the markets, policies, and infrastructure are still designed for the linear economy,” said Emily Amann, Entrepreneurship Orchestrator at Climate-KIC. “The Circular Venture Blueprint is a collaborative guide built from real experience in Bengaluru and Nairobi. It offers tools, case studies, and learnings to help ESOs and entrepreneurs alike navigate this transition.”

According to Amann, the three principles reflect what ventures at different stages need to succeed in a predominantly linear world: specialised capacity building, strong ecosystem collaboration, and adaptive monitoring that fosters continuous learning rather than mere reporting.

“By joining forces across cities and continents, we can amplify our impact and help entrepreneurs demonstrate not only their environmental and social contributions but also the powerful systems change opportunities they create,” she added.

Participating Ventures

Entrepreneurs supported through the CEIC programme include: Kiseki Limited (Eng. James Kitavi); Mokomaya Home Décor (Nyandiya Kamawe); Ecandi (Amos Njiraini); EcoPrint Generations (Gabriel Mwaingo); Rware Waste Dealers (Charles Ngari); Zehunger Solutions (Nicholas Ndekei); Ineight Group (Adrian Kamolleh); Pure Plant Organics (Derrick Ngigi); Harcourt Agri-Eco Farm Ltd (Winnie Wambui); Eco Charge (Mary Nyambura); LakeGen Enterprises Limited (George Ogalo); The Shaba (Gloria Kisilu); Deed Technologies (Dennis Bett); and Zuphifarm (Christine Muriuki).

These ventures exemplify Nairobi’s growing innovation ecosystem — one that is not only rethinking waste, but also reshaping the future of sustainable enterprise in Africa.

Read Also: How NCBA’s Elev8 Revolution Could Unlock A KSh 1 Trillion Creative Economy And The Future of Talent Banking in Kenya