Kenyan among Africa’s top female technology innovators

What you need to know:

Charity Wanjiku has been recognised among six African women entrepreneurs for creating opportunities and preparing the continent for the fourth industrial revolution using technology.
In 2007 Ms Wanjiku teamed up with her brother, Tony Nyagah, to make solar power more affordable and accessible to thousands of poor Kenyans living below $2 (Sh206) a day.

Kenyan entrepreneur, Charity Wanjiku, beat other energy industry investors to secure a place in Africa’s top female technology innovators and entrepreneurs 2017 awards by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Ms Wanjiku was recognised among six African women entrepreneurs for creating opportunities and preparing the continent for the fourth industrial revolution using technology.

The six winners were honoured in a WEF Forum held last Friday in Durban, South Africa, under the theme “Achieving Inclusive Growth”.

“We celebrate the winners as role models who can help governments and policymakers create conditions for others to flourish,” said the Head of Africa at WEF, Elsie Kanza.

Kanza said that the forum provides insight from experts on how Africa will be affected by the onset of digital revolution, particularly in terms of safeguarding the region’s economies from negative disruption and exploiting opportunities for further growth and development. This is the second annual event that recognises African women leveraging on technology in their ventures.

In 2007 Ms Wanjiku teamed up with her brother, Tony Nyagah, to make solar power more affordable and accessible to thousands of poor Kenyans living below $2 (Sh206) a day.

They co-founded Strauss Energy Ltd, which develops energy-producing solar cells that can be integrated into walls, windows and roofs during construction.

Their system comes with special meters that can feed unused electricity units back to the national grid, generating income for households.