Joseph Nguthiru is a climate-tech engineer and environmental innovator who has earned global recognition for pioneering sustainable solutions to Africa's environmental crises.
A graduate of Egerton University, Nguthiru is the founder of HyaPak Ecotech Ltd, a circular economy start-up that transforms the invasive water hyacinth weed, which chokes water bodies like Lake Naivasha, into biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics, such as seedling bags and packaging materials.
His ingenuity in addressing two pressing environmental issues, invasive species and plastic pollution, has not only created green jobs for local communities involved in harvesting the weed but has also helped restore aquatic ecosystems. B
Beyond HyaPak, he co-founded M-Situ, an AI-powered early-warning system for detecting deforestation and wildfires, and AfroClimate, a non-profit empowering climate entrepreneurs.
Nguthiru's groundbreaking work has been celebrated with numerous high-profile international and national accolades.
In 2025, he was named a UN Young Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the organisation's highest environmental honour for young innovators, in recognition of HyaPak's scalable impact.
He also received the prestigious Prototypes for Humanity Award at COP28 in Dubai, an award given under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. His leadership and innovation were further acknowledged by his selection as an Obama Foundation Africa Leader in 2023, where he met with former U.S. President Barack Obama.
Nationally, he is a recipient of a Presidential Award for Best Innovator in Kenya and was named the Best Innovator in the Republic of Kenya by the East African Community. Other honours include being named one of 40 Under 40 Africa and a winner of the World Engineering Day Hackathon by WFEO and UNESCO.