Lorna Rutto Biography
Lorna Rutto is a Kenyan woman who has made a big difference in her country and beyond. She was born in 1984 and is now 41 years old in 2025. She grew up in a poor area but turned her life around to help the environment and people. Lorna started a company called EcoPost in 2009. This company takes plastic waste and makes useful things like fencing posts. Her work helps stop pollution and saves trees. She has won many awards for her ideas. Lorna’s story shows how one person can change things for the better. She wants a green Africa without poverty. Her company has recycled over 13 million kilograms of plastic. This has created more than 100 direct jobs and 12,000 indirect ones. Lorna’s journey teaches us about hard work and caring for our planet. In this article, we will look at her life from start to now. We will see how she went from a bank job to running a successful business. Her story can inspire anyone who wants to make a change. Lorna Rutto is known as an ecopreneur. That means she runs a business that helps the environment. She focuses on sustainable ways to handle waste. Kenya has a big problem with plastic litter. Lorna saw this as a child and decided to fix it. Today, EcoPost is a leader in recycling in Kenya. It works with communities to collect waste. Then, it turns the waste into products that last long. These products replace wood, which helps prevent cutting down trees. Kenya’s forests have shrunk a lot over the years. From 2001 to 2020, forest cover went down to about 6 percent. Lorna’s work fights this issue. She also helps women and youth find work. Many of them collect plastic for her company. This gives them money and skills. Lorna believes in a circular economy. That is when waste becomes new things instead of trash. Her vision is big. She wants to expand beyond Kenya. People around the world see her as a role model.
In interviews, she often says that nothing is waste until you waste it. This idea came from her school days. She used to make jewelry from bottle tops. Now, she applies it on a large scale. Lorna’s story is not just about business. It is about hope and action. She left a safe job to follow her passion. This took courage. Many people thought she was crazy at first. But she proved them wrong. Today, big groups like the United Nations buy her products. Her success shows that green business can make money and do good. As we go through her life, think about how you can help the environment too. Small steps can lead to big changes, just like Lorna did.
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Lorna Rutto Early Life and Background
Lorna Rutto came into the world in 1984. She grew up in the Kaptembwa slums in Nakuru County, Kenya. Life there was tough. Poverty was all around her. Streets were full of garbage. Sewers overflowed and made homes dirty. As a child, Lorna saw how waste hurt people and nature. This made her think about the environment early on. Her family did not have much money. Her father was a landlord, but rents were low. Sometimes, Lorna helped collect rent. She saw how hard life was for others. Many could not pay on time. This bothered her a lot. The slums had no good waste systems. Plastic bags and bottles were everywhere. This pollution made her sad. She loved being outdoors. But the litter ruined the beauty. Kenya’s natural areas were getting smaller because of cutting trees. Lorna noticed this too. Her childhood shaped her future. She learned that waste could be useful.
In school, she picked up plastic and made small items to sell. Like ornaments from polythene bags. This showed her creative side. Living in slums taught her about community. People helped each other. But unemployment was high. Many youth had no jobs. Women struggled the most. Lorna wanted to change this. Her early experiences built her passion for a clean Africa. She dreamed of a place free from poverty and trash. These roots drive her work today. Without her tough start, she might not have started EcoPost. Her story reminds us that hard times can lead to great ideas. Lorna turned her pain into purpose. She often shares how her slum life inspired her. It made her see problems others ignore. Now, she helps those same communities. Her company works with slum dwellers to collect waste. This gives them income. Lorna’s background is key to her success. It gave her empathy and drive. She knows what it is like to have little. So, she focuses on jobs for the poor. Her early life was full of challenges. But she used them to grow. Today, at 41, she looks back with pride. Her journey from slums to CEO is amazing. It shows anyone can rise up. Lorna Rutto’s early years set the stage for her big impact.
Lorna Rutto Education
Lorna Rutto went to school in Kenya. She studied hard despite her tough home life. She got a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting. This was from Africa Nazarene University. She finished her studies around 2008. Accounting taught her about money and business. But she liked science and helping people more. Finance did not excite her. Still, her degree helped later. It gave her skills to run a company. Like keeping track of costs and profits.
In university, she thought about her future. She saw that banking was a common job for her field. But her heart was in the environment. She remembered her childhood waste problems. Education opened her eyes to bigger issues. Like how pollution affects health and nature. She learned about sustainable ways. This means using resources without harming the future. Her time in school built her knowledge. But it also showed her what she did not want. A desk job in a bank felt wrong.
She wanted to make real change. Africa Nazarene University is in Kenya. It focuses on values and service. This matched Lorna’s goals. She graduated ready for work. But soon, she would leave it for her dream. Her education was a stepping stone. It prepared her for entrepreneurship. Today, she uses her accounting skills in EcoPost. Like managing budgets for recycling machines. Education gave her tools to succeed. Lorna often says learning never stops. She keeps studying new ways to recycle. Her degree was just the start. It helped her shift from banking to business. Without it, starting EcoPost might have been harder. Lorna’s education story shows how school can lead to unexpected paths. She turned her knowledge into action for good.
Lorna Rutto Career
Lorna Rutto started her career in banking. After university, she worked at places like Imperial Bank and Equity Bank. This was from 2008 onward. She had a steady job. But she felt something was missing. Her passion was for the environment, not numbers.
In 2009, she quit her job. Many thought this was risky. But Lorna had a plan. She wanted to solve Kenya’s plastic waste problem. That year, she founded EcoPost with Charles Kalama. They started small. The idea came from her childhood. She saw too much plastic litter. Trees were being cut for fencing posts. EcoPost makes posts from recycled plastic. This saves forests and cleans streets. At first, funding was hard. They lost machines in a fire. But they kept going. Customers helped them recover. EcoPost collects plastic from dumps and streets. Women and youth groups do this. The company has supported over 31 groups with shredders. Plastic is melted and shaped into lumber. This is used for fences, signs, and buildings. Big clients include Kenya Wildlife Service and the United Nations. They use it in refugee camps. The business model is simple. Turn waste into products that sell. This creates a circular economy. EcoPost has grown. It is based in Nairobi. They plan to expand. Lorna faced challenges like power outages and high energy costs. Competition was tough too. But she trained waste collectors. This built a strong supply chain. Her career highlights include many awards. Here is a list of some:
- 2009: Enablis Energy Safaricom Business Launchpad Award from Enablis
- 2010: SEED Award, World Wide Fund for Nature Award, Bid Network Nature Challenge Award from SEED, WWF, Bid Network
- 2011: Cartier Women’s Initiative Award as Sub-Saharan Laureate, Acumen Fund Winner, Top 40 Women Under 40 in Kenya from Cartier, Acumen, Business Daily Africa
- 2012: Forbes 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa, Guardian Africa’s Top 25 Women Achievers from Forbes, The Guardian
- 2013: Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year for Africa from Schwab Foundation
- 2014: United Nations Person of the Year in Kenya, Future Awards Africa from UN, Future Awards
- 2015: World Economic Forum Young Global Leader from WEF
- 2017: Sri Sathya Sai Award from Sri Sathya Sai
- 2022: Cartier Women’s Initiative Impact Award in Preserving the Planet from Cartier
These honors boosted her company. They brought attention and funds. Lorna’s impact is huge. EcoPost has recycled 13 million kilograms of plastic. This saved over 4,500 acres of forests. It reduced 160 million kilograms of CO2 emissions. Jobs created help fight poverty. Especially for women in slums. Lorna trains people in entrepreneurship. She wants to train 50,000 more. And save 100 million trees. Her career shows green business works. It makes money and helps society.
In 2025, she is still CEO. She speaks at events like Africa Real Estate Summit. There, she won Best Sustainability Person of the Year in 2024. Lorna shares tips for success. Like believe in your idea and keep learning. She left banking for this. It was not easy, but worth it. Her career inspires many women in Africa. She proves you can start from nothing and achieve big. EcoPost is a model for other countries. Lorna plans to go global. Plastic waste is everywhere. Her solutions can help. She works with groups like CORE in the past. Now, she focuses on her vision. A green Africa free from poverty. Her career is about more than work. It is about changing lives.
To make her career story clearer, let’s think about how it unfolded step by step. First, after school, banking seemed safe. She handled money and clients. But daily, she thought about waste outside. In 2009, with Charles, they tested ideas. They researched how to melt plastic. Simple machines worked best. No need for fancy tech. This kept costs low. Early products sold to farms. Word spread. Challenges came, like the fire. But community support helped. They rebuilt stronger. Operations grew. Now, they have a factory in Ruaraka. Another planned in Cabanas. They use text platforms for payments to collectors. This makes it easy and fair. Lorna’s leadership shines in tough times. She pivots and adapts. Awards came as recognition. Each one opened doors. Like Forbes list in 2012. It put her on global maps. In 2015, as Young Global Leader, she met world influencers. This networked her ideas. Impact goes beyond numbers. It changes mindsets. People see waste as value. Youth start similar ventures. Women gain confidence. Lorna’s career educates on sustainability. She speaks on panels. Shares how business can solve climate change. In Africa, this is key. Many face pollution and job loss. Her model fits UN goals like number 12 for responsible consumption and 15 for life on land. As of 2025, she continues innovating. Recent posts show her at events. Like Climate Fresk Workshop. She pushes for green innovation. Her career is ongoing. Future holds more growth.
Lorna Rutto Personal Life
Lorna Rutto keeps her personal life private. Not much is known about her family. She is multi passionate. That means she has many interests. She loves the outdoors. Growing up in rural Kenya made her value nature. She worries about litter and lost forests. This drives her daily. Lorna sees herself as a change maker. Her vision is a green Africa without poverty. She works hard for this. In free time, she might enjoy nature walks. But her work takes most time. She is active in peace movements. Over years, she joined protests. Like against World Bank policies in 2002. Or stopping fights in South Africa. This shows her care for justice. Lorna lives in Kenya. She focuses on her company and causes. No details on marriage or kids are public. She inspires as a woman leader. Many see her as a role model. Her personal strength comes from early struggles. It built resilience. Lorna believes in lifelong learning. She reads and networks. This keeps her sharp. Her life blends work and passion. They are one. She finds joy in impact. Like seeing jobs created. Or clean streets. Personal life for her is about purpose. She shares quotes on turning waste to wealth. This reflects her mindset. Lorna’s story is humble. From slums to stages. She stays grounded. Helps others rise too.
Conclusion
Lorna Rutto’s life is a tale of turning challenges into chances. Born in 1984 in Kenyan slums, she faced poverty and pollution. But she rose above. Her education in accounting led to banking. Yet, she left for her true call. In 2009, EcoPost began. It recycles plastic into useful items. This fights waste and saves trees. Her career brought awards and impact. Millions of kilograms recycled. Thousands of jobs made. Lorna’s vision inspires. A green Africa free from poverty. Her legacy is in changed lives and cleaner lands. She shows business can heal the planet. As of 2025, she leads on. Her story teaches us to act on dreams. No matter the start, big things are possible. Lorna Rutto proves one person can spark change. Let her journey motivate you to help your world.
FAQs
Who is Lorna Rutto?
Lorna Rutto is a Kenyan ecopreneur born in 1984. She founded EcoPost in 2009 to recycle plastic waste.
What is EcoPost?
EcoPost is a company that turns plastic waste into fencing posts and other products. It helps the environment and creates jobs.
Where is Lorna Rutto from?
She is from Kaptembwa slums in Nakuru County, Kenya.
What education does Lorna Rutto have?
She has a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Africa Nazarene University.
What awards has Lorna Rutto won?
She has won many, like Cartier Women’s Initiative in 2011 and 2022, World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2015.
How does EcoPost help the environment?
It recycles plastic to prevent pollution, saves forests by replacing wood, and reduces CO2 emissions.
What challenges did Lorna Rutto face?
She faced funding issues, a factory fire, power outages, and market competition.
What is Lorna Rutto doing now?
In 2025, she is CEO of EcoPost, speaking at events, and expanding her green initiatives.
How did Lorna Rutto start EcoPost?
She quit banking in 2009, inspired by childhood waste problems, and started with co-founder Charles Kalama.
What is Lorna Rutto’s impact?
She has created over 100 direct jobs, recycled 13 million kg of plastic, and empowered women and youth.