Kenya’s brightest young entrepreneurs gather for Hand in Hand Youth Awards

Catherine Wangari Maina – Saver Pal mobile app Armed with a degree from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology, Catherine isn’t your typical Hand in Hand member. In one important way, however, her story is perfectly mundane: she is young, talented and unemployed. Across the world, some 600 million young people are forecast to graduate into joblessness over the next 10 years. Catherine hopes to make their lives just a little bit easier. The 22-year-old has developed a mobile budgeting app called Saver Pal to help young parents earning less than US $2 a day save a portion of their incomes, even while supporting their families’ needs. She plans to register the app as a legal business this year.

Jonah Gichuhi Kung’u – Leather tanning business Jonah, 26, was another university graduate compelled by unemployment into joining Hand in Hand. Less than a year later, his company Alpha Shannie Leather Industries employs 10 part-time staff, earning US $390 to US $580 a month. “Kenya does not have any leather industry yet this country is endowed with the raw materials,” he says. “There is also a growing demand for leather products in our country but people cannot afford them because the imported products are very expensive.” Next up, says Jonah: expansion into export markets.

Edwin Muriuki Wanjiru – Batch-coding fresh produce Edwin, 24, is barcoding fresh produce to help farmers and consumers connect. By downloading his mobile app, now in the pilot phase, and pointing their phones at a given barcode, consumers will be able to contact farmers and alert them to any defects in their products. Edwin’s target market includes large-scale farmers and medium-sized plantations looking to edge their rivals with superior customer service.

Patrick Mutinda Charles – Architectural models made from upcycled materials Raised by a single parent, Patrick couldn’t afford university, but that didn’t stop him from dreaming big. “I saw a lot of litter lying around our homes and this was such an eyesore,” says the 25-year-old, explaining his business. “I thought I would do something with these used materials to make a living as well as make the environment around me clean. That’s when I decided to collect and buy used cartons to make architectural designs, cards, wall hangings, flowers and slippers.” Despite never having stepped foot in an architecture class, Patrick counts several professional firms among his clients – a testament to his dedication and craftsmanship – and now earns US $100 a month. A portion of his profits go towards expanding his burgeoning poultry business.