From a Car Boot to Transforming Kenya’s Potato Value Chain

Growing up, I watched my mother and our community work tirelessly on farms. The days were long, the labor was intense, yet the returns were often discouraging. Farmers carried the heaviest burden in the value chain but received the least reward.
That reality stayed with me.
Years later, when COVID-19 disrupted livelihoods across the country, I found myself at a crossroads. Like many others, I had to adapt quickly. I started selling potatoes from the boot of my car—not as a grand business idea, but as a way to survive.
But sometimes, clarity comes in the most unexpected moments.
As I interacted with farmers and customers, I began to see a deeper problem. Potatoes, one of Kenya’s most widely grown staple crops, are highly perishable. Farmers would harvest in bulk, only to incur losses due to lack of storage, poor market access, or price fluctuations. At the same time, buyers struggled with inconsistent quality and unreliable supply.
There was a disconnect—and an opportunity.
That realization led to the birth of Wedgehut Foods Limited.

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Bridging the Gap Between Farmers and the Market
At Wedgehut Foods, we are building a bridge between farmers and the market. By sourcing directly from farmers and eliminating middlemen, we ensure better prices at the farm level while delivering consistent quality to our customers.
We process potatoes into ready-to-cook products designed for convenience and reliability—serving hotels, schools, caterers, and households. Our clients can depend on us for a steady supply, while farmers benefit from a more predictable and structured market.
This is not just about business efficiency—it is about restoring dignity and value to farming.
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Reducing Waste, Creating Value
One of the biggest challenges in agriculture is post-harvest loss. A significant portion of produce never reaches the consumer, translating into lost income for farmers and wasted resources for the country.
Our work focuses on changing that.
By investing in value addition, we extend shelf life, improve product quality, and ensure that more of what is grown actually gets consumed. Beyond fresh potato cuts, we are now expanding into products such as potato starch and flour—unlocking new markets and moving closer to full utilization of every potato harvested.
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A Bigger Vision for Agriculture
For me, this journey goes beyond potatoes.
It is about building a more resilient, inclusive, and efficient food system—one where farmers earn fairly, businesses thrive sustainably, and consumers access quality products with ease.
It is also about representation.
I hope my story inspires more women to step into agribusiness, to lead, innovate, and shape the future of Africa’s food systems. Because transformation does not happen in isolation—it happens when more of us step forward and take part.