Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign in Kenya
- James Clark
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 4
On 18 July, Royal Commonwealth Society country partner FlipFlopi gathered the vibrant coastal community of Matondoni Village for a day of hands-on environmental action. The initiative was organised in close collaboration with the Matondoni School Environmental Club and the Matondoni Women’s Group.
The day began with a large-scale clean-up along the seafront and through the village. Led by students and members of the women’s group, participants collected plastic waste from beaches, footpaths, and residential areas, visibly improving the environment and sparking conversation about marine pollution.
In a creative display of upcycling, students showcased hand-made items constructed entirely from plastic waste. These included life jackets made from cement bags and bottles, skipping ropes, and door stoppers, demonstrating both the potential for repurposing everyday waste into useful items.
The school’s environmental club performed the traditional Lele dance. A cultural showcase that demonstrated the link between conserving culture and community and conserving the environment.
The group also visited a small school garden maintained by the Environmental Club. Students grow leafy vegetables here, which are sold within the community, offering a practical example of how environmental education can foster sustainability and self-reliance.
The final stop was the Matondoni Women’s Group’s plastic collection point, where visitors witnessed the group’s ongoing efforts in sorting and recycling plastic waste. This grassroots initiative plays a vital role in keeping waste out of the ocean while generating economic value for the community.
The Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) of Kenya also organised a plastic clean-up as part of the national week of action. Working alongside Mtaa Safi, a youth-led community-based organisation, the CGA visited Olympic Primary in Kibera where they held a clean-up activity with students, teachers, and local volunteers.
The Royal Commonwealth Society is proud to count the FlipFlopi Project as its country partner for the Kenyan leg of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign and the King’s Baton Relay. FlipFlopi is an East African circular economy initiative known for building the world’s first sailing dhow made entirely from recycled plastic.
In 2022, the FlipFlopi team launched a community-driven programme in Lamu, on Kenya’s southern coast, that combines traditional boatbuilding techniques with modern innovation to tackle plastic pollution. Their work brings together education, heritage-based plastic reuse, and policy advocacy to reduce the impact of single-use plastics. By anchoring their approach in local knowledge and culture, FlipFlopi is showing how circular solutions can inspire real environmental progress.
FlipFlopi’s work has gained international recognition and, in 2023, was visited by the Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society, His Majesty King Charles III, during his tour of Kenya. During His Majesty’s visit, he was presented with a throne crafted from 100% recycled plastic.
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
The Royal Commonwealth Society’s Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign will prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways.
The campaign will combine education and local action to encourage people to reduce their plastic waste, highlight alternatives, and reduce pollution across the Commonwealth.
For the action component of the campaign, the Royal Commonwealth Society has partnered with Commonwealth Sport to deliver the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign as a core component of The King’s Baton Relay. This newly envisioned King’s Baton Relay will focus on sustainability and environmentalism and was launched by His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day 2025, beginning a 500-day journey to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July 2026.
Journeying through every Commonwealth nation and territory, this partnership will bring together young people, athletes, conservation groups, and the local community for a week of activities, including a plastic clean-up.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
