Innovation And Sanitation - An Overview Of Sanitation Focused Social Enterprises In Nairobi, Kenya

In Kenya, only 19% of urban residents have access to proper sanitation, while 87% of the population use cell phones on a daily basis. The stark divide between the availability of technology services and basic needs is characteristic of many emerging economies. With cheap imports providing Kenyans with access to modern technology, and the government’s increasing inefficiency, social enterprises are taking matters into their own hands. These enterprises are leveraging available technology to address the needs of the community and solving social problems in the most efficient way possible. For this research, I focused on three enterprises: Sanergy, SHOFCO and BURN and evaluated how technology has enabled them to rise above the crowd and maximize their impact in Nairobi, Kenya.