What if Africa’s waste problem is not just a public-health challenge but one of the continent’s next major business opportunities? For Ghanaian entrepreneur Joseph Siaw Agyepong, the answer appears to be yes — but his company’s Kenyan expansion is arriving under legal scrutiny.
What if Africa’s waste problem is not just a public-health challenge but one of the continent’s next major business opportunities?
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For Ghanaian entrepreneur Joseph Siaw Agyepong, the answer appears to be yes.
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Through Zoomlion, part of the Jospong Group, Agyepong is expanding aggressively into Kenya’s waste-management market, with a 35-year Mombasa County agreement valued at about KSh17 billion ($130 million).
Beyond Mombasa: A National Strategy
But Mombasa is only part of the strategy.
Zoomlion is also involved in Nairobi’s long-term waste-management programme, covering areas including waste collection, haulage, sorting, recycling and disposal. The company says it has identified 409 illegal dumpsites across Nairobi and begun clearing them.
A waste-management plant at Muraai, with a planned capacity of up to 3,500 tonnes per day, is also expected to be commissioned by the end of November.
The Opportunity
The opportunity is enormous. Kenya’s rapidly growing cities need systems capable of handling increasing volumes of municipal waste, and that creates a potentially valuable market for companies that can build the infrastructure around it.
The Scrutiny
But Agyepong’s Kenyan expansion is arriving under scrutiny.
The Mombasa contract is being challenged in court, with the Centre for Litigation Trust alleging shortcomings involving procurement, public participation and environmental requirements. Nairobi’s waste-management award has also faced legal objections, including questions over the procurement process.
These remain allegations and legal challenges, not final findings that the contracts are unlawful.
Zoomlion’s history in Ghana has also attracted scrutiny. A parliamentary investigation into GYEEDA raised significant value-for-money concerns surrounding its contracts, including alleged overcharges, and recommended termination of the arrangement.
The company has continued expanding beyond Ghana nonetheless.
The Bigger Story
And that may be the bigger story.
Agyepong is attempting to turn one of Africa’s most persistent urban problems — waste — into a scalable business across borders.
Key Details at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Company | Zoomlion (Jospong Group) |
| Founder | Joseph Siaw Agyepong |
| Mombasa Contract | 35 years, ~KSh17 billion ($130 million) |
| Nairobi Programme | Waste collection, haulage, sorting, recycling, disposal |
| Illegal Dumpsites Identified | 409 in Nairobi |
| Muraai Plant | Up to 3,500 tonnes/day, expected November |
| Legal Challenges | Mombasa and Nairobi contracts under court challenge |
| Ghana History | GYEEDA parliamentary investigation raised value-for-money concerns |
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on October 6, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
