Enviroserve Kenya Limited Partners with CEPREC

How can we steer the recovery of e-waste and unlock second-life batteries for circular mini-grids

The question led the Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC) Kenya Team to visit Enviroserve Limited, a local recycler of e-waste that has been operating for over seven years. The CEPREC Kenya team, led by Dr William Murithi, the country lead for the project, Gladys Ombati, and Andrew Adwera, both PhD Candidates in the project, and Sheila Chepkorir, a project assistant, were excited to collaborate in advancing a shared vision of transforming electronic waste into clean energy opportunities.

Why This Matters

Kenya is experiencing rapid growth in the use of electric appliances and electricity demand. Additionally, the continued upgrading of electrical and electronic equipment has increased market consumption. This means that more devices are nearing the end of their life, including batteries, which pose a health risk and are environmentally hazardous if not disposed of properly. By integrating Enviroserve’s experience in e-waste management with CEPREC’s strengths in research and circular innovation, we can develop and implement safer and more efficient systems for recycling valuable materials, especially lithium batteries, to power circular mini-grids across the country and replicate this at the level of our partner nations.

Enviroserve Contributions

Drawing from Enviroserve’s expertise, their contributions to the collaboration include:

• E-waste Collection and Logistics – Leveraging hands-on experience in collecting, transporting, dismantling, and sorting electronic waste, including batteries.
• Material Recovery and Recycling – Applying proven processes for recovering valuable materials and ensuring safe recycling.
• Data and Insights – Providing access to data on e-waste volumes, types, and sources to inform planning and innovation.
• Community Awareness – Leading initiatives to promote responsible disposal practices and build public awareness.
• Regional Presence – Operating across Kenya and Rwanda, enabling opportunities for cross-border learning and collaboration.
• Collaborative Partnerships – Demonstrating strong interest in joint proposals, knowledge-sharing, and advancing circular economy solutions with CEPREC.

CEPREC Contributions

Building on CEPREC’s expertise, their contributions to the collaboration include:

• Circular Mini-Grid Innovation – Introducing the model of circular mini-grids powered by second-life batteries as a new pathway for sustainable energy.
• Research and Knowledge Exchange – Highlighting ongoing research at Strathmore and the commitment to share insights with partners.
• Capacity Building – Proposing co-development of training materials on areas such as safe battery handling and circular energy systems.
• Stakeholder Engagement – Emphasising CEPREC’s role in convening diverse actors through its established platforms.

Impact of the partnership

The collaboration is designed to create value across multiple levels of society. For communities, it promises safer environments through responsible e-waste management, improved access to energy, and opportunities to acquire new skills and secure jobs. The government supports the development of stronger policies, establishes traceable systems for accountability, and advances alignment with national development and climate goals. For the industry, the partnership provides access to reliable data, opens pathways to new business opportunities, and enhances environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.

What’s Next

This collaboration will commence with the collection of baseline data and the pilot testing of the collected batteries. From there, lessons will inform the safe deployment of circular mini-grids and guide larger-scale adoption across Kenya. The goal is to create replicable models that deliver environmental, social, and economic benefits.

Written by Sheila Chepkorir and Dr William Murithi, CEPREC-Kenya Country Lead