Mount Kenya University Students Wege Prize Finalists

Four students from Mount Kenya University (MKU) have developed EcoScrubber, an innovative system that captures toxic emissions and greenhouse gases from hospital incinerators and converts the resulting residues into construction materials such as bricks and pavers. The innovation has earned the students a place in the finals of the prestigious Wege Prize in the United States. The student team, Wesley Njenga, Franklin Mwendwa, Elijah Maina, and Rhoda Chinyere, created the solution after witnessing the health and environmental impacts of medical waste emissions during hospital field visits in Kenya.

Designed as a low-cost and scalable technology, EcoScrubber removes harmful pollutants while supporting circular economy practices by transforming waste into valuable building materials. The initiative contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Read more about the innovation here.