(Nairobi) – While many farmers in Nairobi’s Gatina area focus on traditional agriculture like vegetable farming, a group of young people has taken a different path by creating flower pots from recycled waste materials. Known as the Gatina Agri-Business Youth Group, they design these unique pots from plastic bottles, glass, clothing, and other discarded materials, using the pots to plant flowers that they sell to local customers.
These colorful flower displays have not only beautified their workspace but also attracted significant interest from customers and passersby. Local street families and volunteers play an essential role in supplying the group with recyclable materials, which are abundant in the city. According to group chairman Peter Muisyo, accessing these waste materials is not difficult given the widespread littering in Nairobi.
Muisyo believes that incorporating modern, eco-friendly techniques into flower farming can promote sustainable agricultural practices while helping preserve the environment.
The Gatina Agri-Business Youth Group has found that using recycled materials for flower pots allows flower farmers to save money, reducing the need to buy more expensive pots on the market. To expand their market, the group has partnered with charitable organizations, including Raising HeARTS Foundation, which works with children in shelters.
As part of their partnership, the group conducts workshops to teach people how to turn waste into useful products. Their workshops cover creative recycling practices using cardboard, worn-out clothes, metal, plastic, and glass, while also introducing basic vegetable farming. Muisyo emphasizes that these activities help participants, including children, gain valuable skills in pot making, farming, and other productive activities.
Customer prices for the group’s products vary based on flower type and pot quality or size, ranging from a few hundred to thousands of Kenyan shillings. Haman Ndung’u, a leading member of the group, notes that creating flower pots and other items from waste has proven to be a profitable venture, adding new income sources for the team.
Ndung’u explains that the group, founded in 2019 with ten young members—five men and five women—aimed to build a self-reliant community. The idea emerged as the group’s founders faced challenges finding steady employment. According to Anne Njoroge, the group’s treasurer, they have successfully established a market presence in Nairobi and its suburbs, attracting a dedicated customer base that helps promote their work through word-of-mouth and social media.
The Gatina Agri-Business Youth Group’s story highlights how resourcefulness and environmental awareness can combine to create economic opportunity in Nairobi. Their creative approach to recycling and flower farming continues to make an impact, offering a new model for eco-friendly business in Kenya.
Price Range for Recycled Flower Pots by Gatina Agri-Business Youth Group
| Flower Pot Type | Price Range (KES) |
|---|---|
| Basic Recycled Pot (no plants) | 100 – 500 |
| Mid-size Recycled Pot (with flowers) | 500 – 1,500 |
| Large Recycled Pot (with specialty flowers) | 1,500 – 3,000+ |