Drain Socks To Turn the Tide Against Plastic Pollution in Kenya

Every time it rains in our towns and cities, water rushes through roads and paths, carrying with it wrappers, plastic bottles, leaves, and soil. All this runoff often ends up in our rivers, lakes, and even the ocean, worsening Kenya’s water pollution problem. But what if a simple, low-cost solution could stop this flood of waste before it ever reaches the water?

That’s exactly what happened in Kwinana, Australia. Faced with a growing plastic problem, the local government installed a mesh-like bag—called a drain sock—on stormwater drains. In just a few months, these socks captured hundreds of kilograms of waste. The idea is simple: water flows through the sock, but plastic and other rubbish get trapped inside.

^{A drain sock stopping litter from polluting local waterways in the of City of Kwinana, south of Perth | (Gian De Poloni)
www.abc.net.au}

This small intervention created a big impact. No expensive machines. No complex systems. Just a smart, affordable way to catch trash before it spreads. Inspired by this success, cities around the world—from Malaysia to South Africa—are testing drain socks as a frontline defense against water pollution.

Kenya, too, can take this leap.

Imagine drain socks fitted in waste-heavy places like Nairobi’s Gikomba market, Eastlands, or near the Mathare River. During heavy rains, instead of plastic flooding into rivers, it gets collected at the drain mouth. Clean-up groups or local youth initiatives can then empty and sort the waste. Not only does this protect water sources, but it also creates jobs and reduces health risks.

**^{Drainage into a river without a sieve to halt the plastics from pouring it the water body | Courtesy}**

In towns like Kisumu, Eldoret, and Mombasa, where plastic waste often clogs drainage and causes flooding, a drain sock could be the difference between chaos and calm. Even industrial zones in Athi River could benefit from more advanced versions that trap oils and fine sediments, keeping chemicals away from our soil and waterways.

Dirtied river banks with remnants of plastics and trash after storms happen | Courtesy

Some groups in Kenya have already tried similar ideas using metal grates or sack filters. The next step is to make it more structured, documented, and scalable. Using locally available materials like strong mesh, recycled piping, and welded support frames, counties could build and install drain socks for a fraction of the cost of imported systems.

It’s time to act.

As Kenya pushes forward in climate action and conservation, simple innovations like drain socks can create big change. They are not flashy, but they are effective. They show what happens when innovation meets urgency. Clean water, safe neighborhoods, and healthier ecosystems start with small, smart steps—and this is one we can take today.