Africapitol Ventures,a firm that celebrates Africans across the globe has released the list of the 50 most influential women in Kenya in 2024.
The recognized women represent various sectors, including entrepreneurship, communication, healthcare, Tech, and agriculture, among others.
This article features some of the top women entrepreneurs named in the Africapitol’s 2024 50 Most Influential Women.
- Brendah Mwirichia- CEO Peak and Dale solutions
Brendah Mwirichia is the CEO of Peak and Dale Solutions, a digital agency providing digital solutions around digital marketing, social media management, website design, and hosting.
With over 10 years experience as an entrepreneur and business leader in the digital, tech and marketing fields, Mwirichia has played a significant role in promoting business growth hence contributing to the country’s economy.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of Nairobi.
2. Wawira Njiru-Food for Education
Wawira Njiru is the executive director of Food for Education, an organization that serves a hot, nutritious, and affordable school meal to over 33,000 public primary school children in Kiambu, Nairobi, and Mombasa counties.
The 33-year old started the non-governmental organisation 12 years ago in Kiambu County, in a noble attempt to offer hot, nutritious and affordable school meal to primary school children.
Through the organization, Njiru has earned much international praise and commendations.
She has won various awards including the recent Elevate Prize award, the 2022 Icon award presented as part of the 2022 World’s 50 Best Restaurants programme, and was also named UN’s ‘Person of the Year’ in October, 2021.
She holds a Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science from the University of South Australia.
3. Waceke Nduati- Founder Centonomy LTD
She is the founder and CEO of Centonomy Ltd an organization helping people to take back control of their money and wealth creation tools such as entrepreneurship and career.
The organization, founded in 2009, has empowered over 200,000 people in the areas of Personal Finance Management, Entrepreneurship, and Career Development.
4. Terryann Chebet- Media personality
The former Citizen news anchor is the Founder of Africa’s Leading Ladies Facebook Group, a social platform she uses to coach and mentor over 300,000 women across Africa.
With over 17 years of diverse experience in Broadcast Journalism, Public Relations, and Strategic Communications, Chebet currently leads Pink Foundry Communications, a Strategic Communications Agency specializing in Public Relations, Lobbying, Government Affairs, and Financial Communications.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations from the United States International University—Africa and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Cumbria.
- Susan Wanjiku-CEO Legacy Hub
She is the founder and CEO of Legacy Hub, a personal finance, business coaching, and personal development platform.
The entrepreneur lives by the statement that ‘’If you want things to be different, you must do things differently. You must act and think differently.’’
She holds a Bachelor of Economics and Finance from Kenyatta University.
- Sumayya Hassan- CEO takaful insurance of Africa
She is the CEO of Takaful Insurance of Africa, an insurance company offering a wide range of risk management and financial security services.
The entrepreneur who has founded a number of businesses has worked in various industries including oil & gas and takaful islamic insurance.
Sumayya has also served as Chair and member of non-profit foundations focused on education and supporting the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
She is skilled in Corporate Governance, Negotiation, Business Planning, Management, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), and Leadership
- Sarah Kabu- CEO Bonfire Adventures
She is the managing director at Bonfire Adventures, one of the popular travel and tour companies in the country.
Over the years, the tour company has claimed some awards, including Top 100 Midsized Company, Company with the Best Use of Social Media and Kenya Leading Company on Honeymoons.
- Catherine Nyongesa-Founder/CEO – Texas Cancer Centre
Nyongesa is the founder and chief executive of Texas Cancer Centre, in Nairobi. The physician and radiation oncologist is the first woman radiation oncologist in Kenya.
She serves as Chairwoman of the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO). She is the clinical coordinator at the Cancer Treatment Centre of Kenyatta National Hospital and also an honorary lecturer at the University of Nairobi.
Nyogesa holds a Master’s degree focused in Radiation Oncology Residency Program from University of the Witwatersrand.
- Elizabeth Mwangi-Founder – Gwiji
Elizabeth Mwangi is the founder and director of Gwiji, a tech start-up that connects low-income women in some of Kenya’s most impoverished communities to clients in need of cleaning services.
Through the firm launched in May 2022, the entrepreneur has connected over 150 women usually the main breadwinners in their families, to over 500 clients.
- Esther Muchemi- Founder/Group CEO – Samchi Group of Companies
She is the group chief executive officer of the Samchi Group of Companies, a diverse Kenyan conglomerate, whose companies span telecommunications, microfinance, hospitality, real estate, restaurants and ICT.
- Betty Gikonyo-Founder/Chairperson – The Karen Hospital
The Founder and the Chairperson of The Karen Hospital is one of the country’s best-known health care professional.
She is also known for her philanthropic work through the Heart to Heart Foundation, an organization that raises funds for poor children suffering from heart ailments.
- Patricia Okelo -CEO – Kayana Kenya
Patricia Okelo is the co-founder of Kayana Create a platform that brings together women entrepreneurs to nurture small female run businesses.
The entrepreneur is passionate about Women in Business and co-authored ‘A Candid Handbook for Women Doing Business’ that has been received with good reviews.
She deeply believes in the “Spirit of Abundance” as the change the world needs.
- Nelly Cheboi- CEO – Techlit Africa
She is the founder and CEO of TechLit Africa, an organisation that teaches digital skills in Kenya’s rural primary schools, enabling children to fulfill their potential through digital skills development.
The organization teaches 4000 students aged 5–14 basic computer skills and redistributes recycled technology to enable the creation of computer labs in African schools.
Cheboi’a contribution saw her win the 2022 CNN Hero award and was named as one of the 30 under 30 on the Forbes list for social impact in the same year.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and computer science from Augustana College in Illinois.
- Maryann Gichanga-CEO – Agritech Analytics
Gichanga is the CEO of Agritech Analytics an agricultural firm that helps farmers to improve their yield through the use of AI to Detect Crop Diseases.
AgriTech Analytics employs various data types, including satellite imagery and data from its solar IoT crop and soil sensors.
The device sends alerts or reports to farmers via mobile phones with over 97% accuracy, enabling early pest detection to prevent crop damage and harvest loss.
The company has served at least 2,880 small-scale farmers across the Rift Valley, Central, and Eastern Kenya.
