The Women Leading Kenya’s Agritech Revolution

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For decades, agriculture and Kenya’s Agritech industry has been regarded as both the backbone of the economy and the livelihood of millions of households. More than 70 percent of the rural population depend on farming for survival, yet the sector has often lagged behind in modernisation. Farmers, especially smallholders, face recurring challenges: unpredictable weather linked to climate change, high input costs, poor infrastructure, and widespread post-harvest losses. Historically, leadership and innovation in agriculture have also been dominated by men, leaving women, who make up a significant proportion of the agricultural workforce, largely invisible in positions of influence.

But something remarkable is happening. A quiet revolution is unfolding across the country, led not by international corporations or government agencies, but by Kenyan women who are blending technology, entrepreneurship, and social impact into a powerful force for change. These women are building companies that not only generate profit but also directly tackle systemic problems in agriculture, reimagining who farming serves, how it is practiced, and what it can achieve for future generations. Four standout enterprises, AgriTech Analytics, Safi Organics, MashLav Foods, and Rhea, illustrate what becomes possible when women combine vision with technology. 

Top 5 Women Startups in Kenya’s Agritech Revolution

1. AgriTech Analytics

AgriTech Analytics is a leading Kenyan agritech company co-founded by Maryanne Gichanga, Douglas Mwangi, and Juliet Wanjohi, with Gichanga serving as CEO and one of Kenya’s most notable women leaders in agritech. The company was born out of the need to bridge the gap between advanced technology and smallholder farmers who often lack access to accurate and timely information about their farms.

How the Technology Works

The company integrates AI-powered satellite data analytics with solar-powered IoT sensors deployed on farms. These sensors measure soil pH, moisture, temperature, and nutrient levels, while also scanning crop leaves and stems to detect pests and diseases. Combined with satellite imagery, the platform produces over 97 percent accurate reports, alerts, and early warnings, delivered through mobile apps, SMS, or email.

Impact on Farmers

The results have been transformative. AgriTech Analytics’ technology can detect various crop pests and diseases instantly. This has helped farmers to record higher yield within just three to five months of use.

AgriTech Analytics has gained wide recognition, including the Kenyan Presidential Innovation Award in 2024. It collaborates with international partners such as the Bayer Foundation, World Food Programme, Global Center on Adaptation, and African Development Bank, positioning itself as a trusted player in Africa’s agritech landscape.

2. Safi Organics

Kenya’s reliance on imported chemical fertilisers has long created economic and environmental vulnerabilities. Not only are these fertilisers expensive, but they also degrade soil health and reduce long-term productivity. Recognising the urgent need for alternatives, Joyce Kamande co-founded Safi Organics to provide farmers with affordable, sustainable solutions.

What the Company Does

Safi Organics produces Safi Sarvi, an organic fertiliser made from rice husks and other biomass through a patented torrefaction technology validated by MIT. The product is more than just affordable, it directly improves soil health, boosts crop yields by an average of 30%, and even helps sequester carbon, contributing to climate change mitigation.

The company’s decentralised production model means fertilisers are manufactured locally, creating jobs in rural communities while reducing transport costs. Trained distributors, many of them women, not only sell the product but also educate farmers on its application, making knowledge transfer part of the business model.

Impact on Farmers

To date, Safi Organics has supported over 15,000 farmers, rejuvenated more than 7,000 acres of land, and created more than 200 jobs. Certified by Ecocert and approved by the Kenya Bureau of Standards, Safi Organics is now exploring how AI and IoT tools can be integrated to detect soil nutrient deficiencies and provide farmers with tailored solutions. The vision is ambitious: to scale climate-smart farming practices to reach 4 million farmers across the continent.

Kamande’s work illustrates how circular economy models can drive both profitability and sustainability. By turning waste into a resource, Safi Organics is reshaping the very foundation of Kenyan agriculture, its soils.

3. MashLav Foods

Lavender Odeny founded MashLav Foods in Kilifi County with a clear mission to use agriculture as a vehicle for women’s economic independence, particularly for survivors of gender-based violence. 

What the Company Does

MashLav Foods runs an Empowered Women Project on mushroom farming which trains women in cultivation, provides starter kits, and connects them with reliable markets. Oyster mushrooms are the primary crop used because they require little land, minimal water, and grow quickly. This makes them especially well-suited for urban and peri-urban farming, where land is scarce but demand for nutritious food is high.

Impact on Farmers

So far, MashLav Foods has trained and supported 140 farmers, 129 of whom are women. But the impact extends beyond numbers. Women gain not only income but also skills in agribusiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. For many, mushroom farming represents their first opportunity to run a business, support their families, and rebuild their lives with confidence.

The mushrooms themselves are also making a difference. Rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, they contribute to food security in urban communities while promoting sustainable farming. By using organic composting techniques, MashLav Foods ensures that its production minimises waste and environmental impact. In this way, Odeny’s venture tackles two of Kenya’s most entrenched challenges, gender inequality and food insecurity, using mushrooms as both the literal and symbolic seed of change.

4. Rhea

While technology is transforming many aspects of agriculture, one area often overlooked is soil health. Poor soil fertility remains one of the largest barriers to higher productivity in Kenya. Farmers frequently apply fertilisers without knowing the actual nutrient composition of their soils, leading to wasted money, low yields, and further degradation.

What the Company Does

Rhea, founded in 2022 by Priscilla Wakarera, aims to make precision agriculture accessible to smallholder farmers through affordable, real-time soil diagnostics. Rhea’s flagship product, Agripad, deploys IoT sensor combined with machine learning models to test soil on-site. The system generates fertility maps and provides customised fertiliser recommendations, ensuring farmers apply exactly what is needed, no more, no less.

Impact on Farmers

The results speak for themselves. Within just a few years, Rhea has served over 100,000 farmers, achieving 95% accuracy in soil reports. The company has also built a network of more than 85 field agents across Kenya and Uganda to ensure that the technology is not confined to urban elites but reaches rural farmers where it is needed most.

Recognition has followed. Rhea secured a $150,000 grant from Village Capital and Standard Chartered’s Women in Tech program and continues to expand partnerships with governments, research institutions, and agribusinesses across East Africa. For farmers who once relied on guesswork, Rhea is offering clarity, efficiency, and a path to higher productivity.

Challenges Agritech Startups In Kenya Face  

1. Funding Challenges

One of the biggest hurdles for Kenya’s Agritech startups is finding money. They often struggle with limited access to capital and funding, which can seriously slow down their growth, product development, and ability to expand into new markets. High interest rates, strict loan requirements, and a general reluctance from investors to take risks all contribute to a significant funding gap. This makes it incredibly tough for new businesses to get the financial support they need.

2. The Challenge of Market Demand

A common reason Agritech startups fail is that their products or services don’t actually solve a problem people have. This often happens when founders skip crucial steps like thorough market research or fail to truly understand who their customers are. As a result, they end up with a weak value proposition that simply doesn’t resonate with the market. To succeed, Agritech startups need to constantly validate their ideas with customer feedback and be willing to adapt their offerings to meet ever-changing market needs.

3. Lack of Experience

Starting a business requires a wide range of skills, from financial savvy to marketing and leadership. Many Kenyan Agritech start-ups hit roadblocks because they lack experience in these key areas. Without a strong background in finance, operations, or managing a team, it’s difficult to navigate the complexities of running a business. Building a solid team, finding experienced mentors, and committing to continuous learning are all essential for closing these knowledge gaps and improving a startup’s chances of success.

The Way Forward

For Agritech start-ups in Kenya to thrive, deliberate steps must be taken to address the barriers holding them back:

1. Expand Access to Financing

For Agritech innovators, targeted investment funds, microcredit schemes, and public–private partnerships are crucial to bridge the gap between ideas and execution. Start-ups often fail not because their ideas are weak but because they lack the financial runway to test, refine, and scale their solutions. Creating agritech-focused venture capital funds, lowering interest rates on agricultural loans, and providing grant opportunities can give these businesses the resources they need to move beyond survival and towards sustainable expansion. 

2. Implement Supportive Policies

Policy frameworks have the power to either accelerate or stifle innovation. For Kenya’s Agritech sector, policies that reduce entry barriers, simplify regulatory requirements, and provide tax incentives for agritech investments will encourage new players and reduce the risks entrepreneurs face. A conducive policy environment will also attract local and international investors, while ensuring that innovation aligns with national goals such as food security, job creation, and climate resilience. Supportive policies must also prioritise inclusivity, ensuring that women-led enterprises and rural innovators are not left behind.

3. Strengthen Capacity Building

Many agritech start-ups collapse because founders lack strong backgrounds in finance, operations, marketing, or leadership. To address this, training programs, innovation hubs, and mentorship initiatives should be expanded to equip entrepreneurs with the skills and networks they need to succeed. Universities, research institutions, and private incubators can play a vital role by bridging the knowledge gap between agriculture and technology.

The Road Ahead for Kenya’s Agritech

The rise of women-led Agritech start-ups in Kenya is not just a trend but a paradigm shift. Companies like AgriTech Analytics, Safi Organics, MashLav Foods, and Rhea prove that agriculture can be profitable, sustainable, and inclusive. These women are reshaping ecosystems of production, distribution, and empowerment, planting ideas about a future where farming means innovation, ownership, and shared growth.

To unlock this potential, Kenya must strengthen funding access, create supportive policies, and foster mentorship that bridges critical skill gaps. With the right ecosystem, women’s leadership in Agritech will remain central to building food security, creating jobs, and confronting climate change, laying the foundation for a food-secure and sustainable Africa.