Joseph Nguthiru

Joseph Nguthiru is a Kenyan climate-tech engineer, environmental innovator, and social entrepreneur recognized for his work in sustainable technology and circular economy solutions. He founded HyaPak, a startup that converts water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic weed, into biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics.

Nguthiru's innovations have gained international recognition: he is a 2025 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Young Champion of the Earth, an Obama Foundation Leader (2023), a recipient of the Prototypes for Humanity Award at COP28, a One Young World Ambassador and part of 40 Under 40 Africa. His final-year project came after an ordeal of being stuck in Lake Naivasha during a class trip and focused on converting invasive water hyacinth into biodegradable packaging materials. This later became the foundation for HyaPak as the project evolved into a social enterprise following his graduation.

The plant blocks waterways, depletes oxygen in water bodies, and threatens aquatic ecosystems and local fishing industries. By 2025, HyaPak had removed over 8 hectares of water hyacinth from Lake Naivasha, helping restore the lake's ecological balance while simultaneously creating employment opportunities for local communities involved in harvesting and processing.

The technology received significant international recognition at COP28 in Dubai, UAE, where HyaPak won the Prototypes for Humanity Award (2023) in the Nature, Food, and Water Systems category. The award was granted from a competitive pool of 2,800 submissions representing 710 universities across more than 200 research fields.

In 2025, Nguthiru and HyaPak were featured by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs as one of the key projects at the 10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Other ventures Nguthiru co-founded M-Situ AI, a technology startup that uses artificial intelligence and satellite imagery as an early warning system to detect deforestation, wildfires, and illegal charcoal burning in Kenyan forests. The system aims to support forest conservation efforts by providing real-time alerts to relevant authorities.

He also serves as co-founder and engineer at AfroClimate, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works to empower African entrepreneurs and innovators to develop solutions for climate change challenges.

In scientific youth engagement, Nguthiru co-founded The Keeling Society, a youth-led organization focused on climate science communication. He served as a Contact Point at the Science Working Group in YOUNGO (the official youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - UNFCCC), where he represents young scientists in international climate negotiations.

Adopt a River Initiative Through the Adopt a River initiative, Nguthiru has led environmental projects that have removed over three tons of waste from polluted rivers across Kenya. Presidential Award for Best Innovator in Kenya – East Africa Science and Technology Commission (2022) Best Manufacturing Startup – Kenya Innovation Week (2022/2023) Prototypes for Humanity Award – COP28, Nature, Food, and Water Systems category (2023) Chinese Bridge – Vocal Category winner (2020) WFEO/UNESCO Award – World Engineering Day Hackathon Winner (2022 & 2023) East Africa Youth for Climate Action Award – Regional climate innovation recognition by ICPAC/IGAD TotalEnergies Startup of the Year – Best business creation model (2021/2022) Yale top 30 startups in Africa – Yale Africa Startup Review (2023)