Samuel Mungai

Samuel Thuo Mungai is a Kenyan circular bioeconomy practitioner, agribusiness entrepreneur, and sustainability advocate working at the intersection of agricultural waste valorisation, sustainable manufacturing, and climate-smart rural development. He is the Chairperson of the East Africa Alternative Fibres Forum (EAAFF), a regional platform connecting innovators, researchers, producers, processors, and market actors advancing alternative natural fibre value chains across East Africa.
Samuel is also Co-founder of Ziada Solutions, where he leads initiatives transforming banana agricultural residues into natural fibres, biodegradable products, biochar, organic inputs, and circular livelihood opportunities for smallholder farmers, youth, and women. His work focuses on developing inclusive circular economy models that convert agricultural waste into sustainable materials and green industrial opportunities.
He has contributed to regional and international discussions on sustainable agriculture, carbon removal, biochar systems, circular manufacturing, and alternative fibres, while supporting ecosystem-building efforts linking research, enterprise, and policy. Samuel is actively involved in initiatives exploring fibre mapping, sustainable textile value chains, and climate-smart biomaterials positioning East Africa as an emerging hub for sustainable fibres and bio-based industries.
At AWWS III, Samuel will present on: “From Crop Waste to Climate-Smart Materials: Unlocking Alternative Natural Fibre Value Chains for Africa’s Circular Bioeconomy.”