The man behind the novel 'Iko Toilet' venture

By FRANKLINE OKUTOYI

Few Kenya entrepreneurs would think of investing their capital in the management of the public toilets. Even fewer would imagine that human waste could be translated into business-oriented idea.

But to David Kuria, the director Iko Toilet, this was a business opportunity idea, which he has turned cash cow three years after he begun.

Today, Kuria tries to manage the deluge of orders from other cities like Kampala, Dar es salam, Monrovia and Accra who are scrambling for Iko Toliet services. These cities want to emulate Kenya’s example, and embrace Iko Toilet project as a way of bringing sanity in the urban areas

"We are at final stages, and very soon, we will be visible in other African cities", said Kuria.

The idea had humble beginnings. "The primary idea was to create clean environment for city duelers by controlling the disposal of human waste. I am happy that today someone can ask for an appointment beside Iko Toilet," says Kuria.

Iko Toilet’s manpower has grown exponentially from the initial twenty people to more than two hundred today. In Kenya alone, the project is visible in major towns and more than twenty municipalities.

Kuria is banking on the Vision 2030 economic blue print and the new Constitution as he spreads his Iko Toilets to counties, which will become urban area under the new order.

Last year, the budding entrepreneur received a UN’s best international best practice award. Next month, he is set to travel to South Africa where he is poised to win another prestigious SMME award after being selected among five finalists in the Most Innovative award 2011.

Among his other recognition are the Ashoka Fellowship, dubbed the change makers, which he received in the US in 2007, the Hall of fame – world toilet organization in Singapore 2008, Africa entrepreneur of the year in 2009 and the President Clinton Citation.

Last year, Iko Toilet served an estimated population of 6.2 million people. And this year, the project is expected to serve over ten million.

But just like any other business, the business has its own challenges. The biggest, Kuria says, has been getting customers to practice good usage of the facilities. However, Kuria says that with time they hope that will change completely and that human good waste management will attain its peak.