Patricia Achieng

I deserve the Agribusiness and Agro-processing Award because I am not simply participating in Kenya’s agro-processing sector—I am pioneering a new commercial cassava value chain with the potential to transform how garri is produced, standardized and marketed in Kenya and East Africa.

Through Naija Kitchen Kenya Limited, I have turned an identified market gap into a practical agro-processing enterprise, transforming cassava into value-added, commercially viable food products. My work combines innovation, technical research, product development, quality assurance and entrepreneurship to establish local manufacturing of a product that has traditionally depended heavily on imports.

What distinguishes my journey is that I have deliberately built the technical and regulatory foundation required for sustainable scale. I have undertaken training, research and product development at KIRDI and achieved KEBS certification for my products, demonstrating that African food innovation can meet formal Kenyan quality standards while retaining its cultural identity.

I am now working towards establishing a dedicated commercial garri processing plant in Kenya, creating opportunities across the agricultural value chain—from cassava farmers and aggregators to processors, distributors and retailers. The vision is to create jobs, particularly for women and youth, support local farmers, strengthen manufacturing and position Kenya as a regional hub for African food processing.

My contribution therefore goes beyond building a successful food business. I am creating a new agro-processing opportunity, converting an agricultural commodity into a standardized Kenyan-made product with the potential to generate jobs, support farmers, drive import substitution and unlock regional trade.