Living at the edge of disparity and hopelessness, a section of young people from the Mukuru kwa Reuben slums have a story to tell the world.
In fact, when the former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon toured the area, they did not disappoint.
They showcased what they are doing to help save the planet through the Black Soldier Fly farming.
The project mesmerised the former UN chief.
In Mukuru, the organic waste, which makes up for 70 per cent of the waste in Mukuru, is used to rear BSF larvae, which will then be turned into fodder for livestock through collaboration with a private sector company.
BSF farming provides a unique solution to the problem of waste and flood management in Mukuru, and at the same time helps address the fodder shortage in Kenya.
The former Secretary General lauded the youth initiative during the high level visit on Monday.
“Climate change may be a global phenomenon but its impacts are felt locally. So it follows that solutions to this global crisis also have to be local. I commend the people of Mukuru for their innovative work and look forward to seeing it replicated elsewhere,” Ki-Moon said.
Global Centre on Adaptation CEO Patrick Verkooijen, Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy (Denmark) Dan Jørgensen and Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships (France) Chrysoula Zacharopoulou were present during the tour.
He said that he was humbled to have seen the conditions in which residents were living in and that the impact of climate change was hitting the vulnerable in the society hardest.
Ki-moon said the work by the young people through using the BSF rearing was unique and contributed to the global efforts of addressing three planetary crises of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss.
The business trainer for the 53 young people undertaking the project, Catherine Nina, took the former UN chief through what they do.
Nina said the process of rearing the larvae to adulthood takes approximately 40 days after which they sell the fodder for a profit.
“A 50kg bag of fass, which is the animal feed, goes for about Sh2,500,” she said, adding that units have equipped youth in the area with invaluable skills that help them conserve the environment as well as earn a living.
The Mukuru residents in 2017 undertook an ambitious, ground-breaking participatory upgrading process known as the Mukuru Special Planning Area.
Since then, the Global Centre on Adaptation has worked with the Akiba Mashinani Trust and the residents of Mukuru to produce the Locally Led Planning: A Guide for Building Climate Resilience in Urban Informal Settlements.
The guide captured lessons and practices from the groundbreaking work implemented by the community and local government in Mukuru and formed the basis for the 'People’s Adaptation Plan'.
The project can unlock the enormous potential and creativity of communities to develop and implement solutions, while catalysing adaptation that is more effective, equitable and better targeted at local needs.
Jørgensen said climate adaptation is urgently needed in Africa and solutions must target the most vulnerable.
"Locally-led adaptation is a key priority for Denmark and the activities we have seen in Mukuru today really shows the power of engaging the community.”
Zacharopoulou on her part said: “France and the European Union are deeply committed to supporting local communities, such as the people of Mukuru, in implementing their adaptation plans. We believe in local solutions with international support, and that is exactly what we have seen here today.”
France also accepted an invitation from Ki-moon and chairperson of GCA to join the GCA advisory board.