BY MISHI GONGO (Daily Nation)
UN report that predicted more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050 jolted dentist into action
A brush with death thrust Tayba Hatimy, a professional dentist, into the heart of Kenya’s environmental crisis and into the hands of thousands of people now earning a living by turning trash into hope and cash.
“I nearly got into an accident because of illegally dumped plastic waste. That experience pushed me into action,” she recalls. That moment, coupled with a chilling UN report predicting there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050, changed the course of her life. Without any formal background in climate change, the environment or the blue economy, Dr Hatimy began researching the root causes of plastic pollution in coastal Kenya and took a bold leap into environmental conservation innovation.
In 2021, she co-founded Baus Taka, a tech-powered circular economy enterprise that has so far diverted over 8,000 tonnes of waste from illegal dumping sites across Mombasa’s Mvita and Nyali sub-counties. Baus Taka, short for Building and Uniting Systems for Waste, is powered by a mobile app that allows users to book waste pickups, report illegal dumping, and earn rewards for segregating plastic waste. The platform is supported by a USSD version to reach low-income users without smartphones.
“It’s like Uber for waste. But more than that, it’s about creating green livelihoods and restoring dignity in communities often excluded from formal environmental systems,” says Dr Hatimy. The enterprise primarily targets underserved coastal neighbourhoods such as Old Town, where poor sanitation and illegal dumping have long been public health hazards. The app maps waste volumes and dumping hotspots in real time, making collection more efficient while providing critical data to local authorities. Users earn redeemable points for properly sorted waste, which can be exchanged for outpatient health services, an incentive that is shifting mindsets in low-income households where trash was once seen as just that.
“We wanted to bridge the gap between awareness and action. The app gives people urgency not just to clean up their spaces, but to earn from it,” says Dr Hatimy.
Today, Baus Taka supports over 500 community members, particularly women and youth, who earn through plastic trading, sorting, and upcycling. In the streets and homes of Mvita and Nyali, the impact is evident.
Women have taken charge of community clean-ups, door-todoor education campaigns, and even micro-enterprises centred on plastic collection and recycling. Youth groups are involved in everything from ocean literacy to art, music, and digital storytelling, transforming what was once an eyesore into income-generating opportunity.
One standout initiative is the Baus Eco-Champion Programme, which equips women with skills in climate advocacy, circular entrepreneurship, and sustainable waste handling. “Women are at the centre of household waste management, yet they’re often left out of formal income opportunities. We are changing that—intentionally,” says Dr Hatimy. Recognition for this grassroots effort has been far-reaching. In 2023, Baus Taka won Afri-Plastics Challenge and a £250,000 prize. The following year, Dr Hatimy was named among the 17 Faces of Action – Kenya by the United Nations Office in Geneva, selected for the Fortune–US State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership, and honoured with a feature at the Africa Climate Summit. She even presented her initiative to King Charles III during his visit to Kenya.
But Dr Hatimy says it’s the community-driven milestones that matter most. “Seeing women and youth turn waste into wealth and hope, that’s our biggest achievement. We have built a system that works for the people, with the people,” she says. The enterprise operates on a hybrid model, combining revenue from plastic sales and waste collection services with grants and support from organisations such as the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), Red Cross, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, and GIZ.
Plans are underway to scale the app regionally into Tanzania and Somalia, supported by a grant from the East African Community–GIZ hackathon. Despite the growing acclaim, challenges remain, from technical glitches and slow pickups to public apathy about waste segregation. But Dr Hatimy says they address this through art, storytelling, and behaviour change campaigns led by local champions.
“We don’t preach, we listen. Once people understand the health risks and economic benefits, resistance turns into ownership,” she says. “Purpose drives me. Even when things get tough, the hope for a cleaner coast and a better future keeps me going,” says Dr Hatimy. To young women dreaming of tech and social impact, she offers this advice: “Start small. Focus on solving real problems with heart and honesty. The rest will follow.”
