A failed DJ and an unapologetic lover of WWE, Joseph Nguthiru is not the kind of climate innovator you expect to find in a laboratory.
He is busy with the rules of environmental entrepreneurship, proving that purpose can be born from pain and innovation can rise from invasion.
Recently named as the UN Young Champion of the Earth, he runs two ventures: HyaPak and M-Situ. At HyaPak, he leads the production of biodegradable packaging from water hyacinth.
He is turning hyacinth into seedling bags, parcel packaging and carton linings that decompose naturally, enrich the soil and eliminate long-term pollution. At M-Situ, he harnesses the power of AI as an early warning system for deforestation, illegal burning and wildfires.
"I believe Africa does not need imported solutions to solve African problems. The answers are already here, hidden in the very challenges we face."
HyaPak has successfully cleared more than eight hectares of water hyacinth from Lake Naivasha, easing the pressure on the ecosystem while creating green jobs for the local community.
“I believe Africa does not need imported solutions to solve African problems. The answers are already here, hidden in the very challenges we face,” says Nguthiru.
Another belief that shapes his journey is “Waste is only waste when we fail to see its value.” His story, he says, should prove that young Africans can build world-changing solutions from local realities.
He is also challenging the idea that climate action begins and ends with tree planting. While reforestation is important, he argues that true climate resilience lies in circular economies, clean energy access, sustainable industry and honest conversations around transparency and fair compensation.
His academic roots in water and environmental engineering at Egerton University laid the foundation, but the real learning was on the marketplace. From figuring out taxes, pitching investors, hiring teams, designing products and leading partnerships, every day has been a masterclass in resilience.
Outside work, he finds joy in reading, church media service, climate-focused advocacy through his non-profit Afroclimate, and still, deep down, the music that once called him to DJ booths.
-Marion Sitawa