Seven start-ups from Uasin Gichu County received Sh1 million from the Mozilla Mashinani tech-innovation challenge unveiled by Mozilla Africa Mradi and Gladys Boss Foundation (GBF).

During a workshop for tech-startups and students held in Eldoret, Mozilla said the startups will be offered further training and offered guidance on how to boost their ideas and products.

The start-ups include:

Tindo: A video on demand platform that is targeting filmmakers from various communities in the region who are producing indigenous films.

My Shule: An app that seeks to safely transport students to school and back home in time through a live bus map that lets you know when the bus is coming, when your child arrives at school, and when they are heading back home.

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Mche: It offers a comprehensive solution to smallholder farmers, providing them with advisory services on the best crops to grow in their respective geographical areas.

Mama Fua: A mobile application that links households to trained and vetted Housekeepers providing safe, convenient and automated access to cleaning services.

Lifeline: A platform that provides quick access to critical medical information during emergencies and supports persons with disabilities and those unable to communicate on their own.

M-Rafiki: A platform that helps people to connect and interact while also accessing services and businesses that they need.

Gavo Foods: The start-up manufactures gluten free-keto organic flours that will help break the cycle of poverty and lifestyle diseases and support smallholder farmers.

The Mashinani Initiative seeks to democratize Kenya's technology and innovation ecosystem and level the startup playing field, especially for youth outside metropolitan cities.

The initiative says it will ensure that young innovators across Kenya also have access to the information and knowledge they need to establish and operate profitable startups.It is backed by the Mozilla Africa Mradi that seeks to fast track innovation by developing new stronger relationships with in-region partners to learn more about the intersection of African product needs, and capacity gaps.

“Mozilla is expanding efforts to build with and not for African communities while promoting models of innovation that empowering, inclusive and grounded in the unique needs of users in the African continent,” said Mozilla Corporation Senior Director Alice Munyua.

She added, “Critical to this global majority programme, is working with local partners to better understand the landscape, local needs, expertise, context, and capabilities, to co-create, while building a community with a critical mass of local partners that see Mozilla as a trusted partner and guide to a healthy and joyful internet.”

On her part, National Assembly Deputy Speaker and GBF Founder Gladys Boss Shollei said the partnership will enable tech innovators outside the main cities to also get exposure.


“The Gladys Boss Foundation (GBF) is working with Mozilla’s Africa Mradi to ensure that tech innovators outside Nairobi and metropolitan counties have equal opportunities and platforms to showcase their innovations, are exposed to how venture capital investments work and are trained on startup accelerator opportunities available to them in the continent and globally,” said Gladys.

The Mashinani Initiative will conclude in the first ever Mozilla Africa Mradi innovation challenge, which is scheduled to be held in Nairobi in June 2023.

The challenge will identify and support tech startups and tech students via an acceleration programme offering technical support, access to grants and market access for their products.

Kenya is the East African regional ICT hub, with the country leading in broadband connectivity and general ICT infrastructure and it hosts more than 300 tech start-ups.