Louisa Gathecha, a Kenyan entrepreneur, saw an opportunity in glass recycling while working for a food and beverage company that took her across several African countries. Observing the widespread disposal of glass bottles and jars, she decided to start her own business in 2020, investing her savings into a glass crushing operation.
Her decision coincided with the launch of MbeleNaBiz (Forward in Business), a government initiative targeting young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35. Gathecha was among 750 winners who received grant funding through the program, securing $36,000 to help expand her company, Bottles Logistics EA Ltd., in Nairobi.
When the COVID-19 pandemic led most glass manufacturers to close temporarily, demand for crushed glass dropped. However, waste management companies began collecting more empty bottles as home alcohol consumption increased. Kenyan distillers and bottlers became her main clients, shifting the company's focus to reusable bottles—which now account for 80% of its business.
By January this year, Gathecha introduced semi-automated washing stalls at her facility. She credits this addition with increasing monthly processing capacity from 720,000 to 1.2 million bottles.
Gathecha's company has grown since the pandemic. It now produces up to 300 tons of refined cullet per month and has expanded its workforce from 60 to 140 employees. Annual revenue has tripled to $800,000.
Recently, she opened another plant employing 70 people in Nakuru city. Many workers come from disadvantaged urban communities where vulnerable employment is common. Bottle-washers earn $1 per crate of bottles washed—between $3 and $5.50 daily—meeting Kenya’s legal minimum wage for their job type and location.
The company also provides opportunities for advancement; for example, Tabby Njeri moved from bottle washer to quality control and now earns up to $40 per six-day workweek. Women make up 76% of the staff.
Kenya faces significant youth unemployment challenges; many graduates seek work abroad due to limited local opportunities. Gathecha encourages them: “Open your eyes, there are very many open doors. You must roll up your sleeves and pick whichever door is open.”
She shared that finding a profitable market in Asia for colored glass exports was a highlight of her career: “And my lowest low was when I lost one of my significant customers,” she said. That customer eventually returned two years later.
Technical support through KYEOP (Kenya Youth Employment Opportunities Project) proved valuable for Gathecha’s export ambitions—she learned about available guidance from agencies like KEPROBA and tax reductions under Kenya’s Finance Act.
MbeleNaBiz was part of KYEOP’s efforts between 2019 and 2023 aimed at helping high-growth entrepreneurs generate jobs for young people across various sectors including recycling, agriculture, construction, digital products, and more. The initiative awarded grants ranging from $9,000 to $36,000 along with business development assistance to innovative Kenyans; it helped create over 3,000 direct jobs by enabling start-ups and existing businesses to scale operations or introduce new products.
Overall under KYEOP’s programs—including MbeleNaBiz—145,000 youths were empowered nationwide with employment opportunities; 87% secured jobs while indirect job creation reached about 30,000 positions and earnings rose by half. These results have led authorities to launch NYOTA (National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement), expanding similar employment initiatives throughout all counties in Kenya.