Meet regional purpose-driven entrepreneurs making an impact on society, the planet and beyond
By Edward Githae
Nestled in the vibrant region of East Africa, a quiet yet powerful revolution is taking place—one fuelled by groundbreaking innovation, unwavering resilience, and a deep-seated commitment to creating lasting change. From the energetic, pulse-racing streets of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, to the serene coastal beauty of Tanzania’s bustling cities, and the picturesque, meticulously planned cityscape of Kigali, Rwanda, passionate changemakers are redefining the very essence of entrepreneurship and driving profound social transformation. Each corner of this region buzzes with the promise of progress, where creativity and determination converge to shape a brighter, more sustainable future.
Below, Ethical Business tells the story of visionaries who are not just building businesses; they are cultivating legacies that challenge conventional notions of success and redefine the purpose of entrepreneurship.
The visionary leaders
In the corridors of East Africa’s teeming innovation hubs, there is a growing movement that transcends profit margins and shareholder dividends. The focus is on creating businesses that address society’s most pressing challenges – from climate change and poverty to education and healthcare. These changemakers are showing that entrepreneurship can be a vehicle for social good, and in doing so, they are redefining what it means to be a successful entrepreneur.
One such entrepreneur is Nzambi Matee, the founder of Gjenge Makers, who uses her background in material science and engineering to transform plastic waste into sustainable building blocks. Recognising the importance of housing as a basic human need, she decided to focus on creating alternative building materials by recycling plastic.
Gjenge recycles 10 to 25 metric tonnes of plastic waste weekly, mixing it with sand to create durable paving bricks. Nzambi envisions using these bricks to build roads, enabling children to reach school on time. She believes plastic is an essential resource that impacts various industries but emphasizes the importance of considering its long-term environmental effects, particularly with single-use plastic.
Empowering women entrepreneurs
The region is also seeing a surge of women-led ventures that are pushing the boundaries of innovation. Take Wambui Kamiru, a creative powerhouse whose company Kasha is empowering women through digital healthcare solutions in Kenya and Rwanda. Kasha’s online platform provides women with discreet access to health products and information, helping to bridge gaps in health equity.
“As women, we know the barriers we face in accessing essential services. My goal is to use entrepreneurship to break these barriers and create a more inclusive future,” Wambui says.
Her work not only addresses gaps in healthcare but also fosters an entrepreneurial spirit among women across the region, many of whom have faced systemic inequalities in both business and life.
These women entrepreneurs are not just breaking glass ceilings—they are creating platforms for future generations to thrive. They are role models for a new wave of changemakers who believe that entrepreneurship is a tool for empowerment and societal change.
Technology for a better tomorrow
Technology continues to be a game-changer in the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Twiga Foods, founded in Kenya in 2014 by Grant Brooke and Peter Njonjo, aims to tackle the challenges small-scale farmers face in accessing reliable markets and fair prices. The company has transformed East Africa’s food supply chain with tech-driven solutions, expanding its impact in Kenya and Uganda.
Twiga operates a B2B marketplace that connects farmers directly to vendors via a mobile-based, cashless platform, eliminating intermediaries. The company’s trucks cover 12,000 kilometers daily, delivering around 2 million kilos of produce to over 12,000 customers. Twiga also offers 24-hour farm-to-vendor delivery, cashless transactions, Buy Now Pay Later options, and business training for small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Initially focusing on bananas, Twiga expanded to include various fresh fruits, vegetables, and staple crops. Its innovative approach has driven remarkable growth and created significant advancements in Africa’s agricultural sector.
The company is committed to empowering farmers by providing a fair market, reducing post-harvest losses, and offering access to financial services. Twiga envisions a future where farmers thrive, vendors have a reliable food supply, and consumers enjoy affordable, nutritious food.
Putting Sustainability at the core
A new breed of green entrepreneurs is emerging in East Africa, recognising environmental sustainability as a vital foundation for development. In Rwanda, two forward-thinking entrepreneurs, Blandine Umuziranenge of Kosmotive and Planté Josué Niyomugenga of Aflimba, are at the forefront of championing circular economy principles. By introducing groundbreaking initiatives in the health and fashion sectors, they are extending product lifespans, minimizing waste, and maximizing resource efficiency.
Kosmotive, founded in 2014, is a social enterprise revolutionizing menstrual product manufacturing through a circular economy approach. Their eco-friendly KosmoPads, made from 100% cloth, can be reused for up to two years, addressing the affordability and accessibility issues women in rural Rwanda face with disposable pads. By using KosmoPads, women can save up to 88% over two years.
Kosmotive also provides reproductive health education and creates employment opportunities, while reducing waste by recycling used pads into products like mats and pillows, aligning with their commitment to sustainability.
Aflimba is another initiative promoting sustainable fashion in Rwanda by repurposing discarded denim jeans into handcrafted bags called “Kintsugi.” This venture combines fashion and sustainability, showcasing a circular economy model where waste materials are transformed into stylish, functional accessories.
Aflimba supports rural artisans, provides employment, and raises awareness about sustainable fashion, encouraging consumers to make mindful choices while promoting a sense of community and pride. Their bags symbolise a shift towards sustainable fashion, proving that style and sustainability can coexist.
Food loss and food waste
Another Kenyan-based Solar Freeze is tackling one of East Africa’s biggest agricultural challenges: food waste caused by poor cold storage. In developing countries, nearly 45% of food spoils due to the lack of proper facilities, and Solar Freeze is stepping up to change that.
Founder Dysmus Kisilu explains the motivation behind the project:
“We watched our parents, grandparents, and those before them work tirelessly, they toiled in the rural farms only for a significant portion of their fresh produce to rot away due to lack of proper cold storage units”.
Solar Freeze’s solution combines several innovative elements including mobile cold storage units powered by solar energy, accessibility via mobile apps and SMS services, refrigerated transportation options, improved market access for farmers and training programs to build skills.
Their approach has been especially beneficial for women, with 80% of their users being women farmers. By extending the shelf life of produce in areas with unreliable electricity, they’re helping ensure food security and boosting incomes. Looking ahead to 2030, Solar Freeze aims to reach 30,000 farmers with its sharing-economy model, offering low-cost cold storage to address a major regional need.
Knock-on Effect: Inspiring future generations
Across East Africa, there is a palpable sense of optimism. Young entrepreneurs are stepping into the void left by outdated systems, bringing with them fresh ideas, bold solutions, and a deep desire to give back to their communities. They are inspired by the changemakers who have come before them—those who have shown that entrepreneurship can be a tool for not just financial growth but social impact as well.
As the region continues to evolve, there is a growing recognition that the future of entrepreneurship lies in collaboration. Traditional boundaries between the private sector, government, and civil society are beginning to blur as entrepreneurs, policymakers, and social innovators work together to drive change. From Kigali’s emerging tech hubs to Nairobi’s world-class innovation centers, East Africa is quickly becoming a beacon of hope for the global entrepreneurial ecosystem.
New legacy of entrepreneurship
In East Africa, a new wave of visionaries is reshaping the very essence of entrepreneurship. These changemakers are proving to the world that business is not solely about financial gain but about the profound legacy it leaves in its wake. They are redefining what it means to succeed—not by the scale of their enterprises or the wealth they accumulate, but by the transformative effect they have on the lives of those around them.
With each innovation, every spark of inspiration, and every courageous step they take, these pioneers are crafting a fresh blueprint for what entrepreneurship can be. In this bold new world, impact and profit are inseparable, and every venture becomes a platform to foster positive, lasting change. In East Africa, the future of entrepreneurship is not merely about constructing businesses – it’s about creating a legacy that uplifts communities and reshapes the world for the better.
