Giraffe Bioenergy
Standing Tall for Food and Fuel
We are establishing local manufacturing of ethanol cooking fuel from cassava to serve the growing clean cooking market in Kenya impacting rural livelihoods.
Build 45 million litres of ethanol cooking fuel capacity by 2028
Increase the incomes of 5,000 smallholder farmers, mainly women
Improve food security for 20,000 members of the community
Problem & Solution
We import the majority of ethanol cooking fuel used in Kenya despite having all the resources necessary for robust domestic production from cassava including:
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High demand for ethanol cooking fuel
Established last-mile distribution infrastructure
Ample under-utilised semi-arid land
Plenty of skilled and semi-skilled labour
Protective tariffs and political will
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is to establish rural bioeconomies increasing the incomes of women in farming communities through large-scale cassava farming and manufacturing of ethanol cooking fuel.
Our vision is to leverage the central role that women play in the value chain in cassava production and processing and as beneficiaries of ethanol cooking fuel replacing charcoal and kerosene.
Our Work
Find out more about our work and what we are doing to make our mission a reality.
The team
Founder and CEO
Linda Davis, PhD
Dr Linda has over 20 years experience in several senior executive positions globally leading biorefinery business departments. She has a PhD Degree in Microbiology specialising in producing ethanol from novel technologies.
Denis Nyanja
Chief Financial Officer
Denis has 13 years of experience in finance, strategy and operations. In the course of his career he has driven revenue growth and expansion across Africa. Denis has an MBA from Strathmore Business School, has taken executive programs with IESE and Harvard Business Schools and is a member of ICPAK.
Paul Grinvalds
Chief Operations Officer
Paul Grinvalds is a seasoned leader and innovator with 15 years of experience as co-founder and CEO of the massively impactful and successful AFRIpads. Paul is committed to working with impact-driven organizations and doing his part to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.
Christine Mutoni, PhD
Cassava- Cassava Expert, IITA point of Contact
Christine earned a Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Nairobi, specializing in creating disease-resistant cassava varieties. With extensive agricultural research experience, she's dedicated to enhancing cassava farming through ongoing scientific engagement.
Jonathan Tofa
Agricultural General Manager
Jonathan is a highly dedicated and experienced farm manager with almost 15 years of experience in managing large-scale agricultural operations in Kenya and Uganda. He is a meticulous organizer and adept at negotiating the business side of agriculture.
Winnie Njoki
Finance and Administration Manager
Winnie is a finance professional with over 10 years of experience in implementing best practice in Finance and Administration procedures.
Farm Coordinator
Mark Kaloki
Mark has over 15 years of experience in the agricultural field, having worked in a range of positions to support and encourage excellence in production.
Ruth Masika
Block Farm Coordinator
Ruth has had long experience in empowering communities with agricultural best practice, having previously worked as a field officer with One Acre Fund. Ruth’s patient guidance and innovative teaching methods, have been a boon to the block farmer program.
Juma Keya
Health & Safety Lead and Irrigation Associate
Juma is a leader in the realm of health and safety. He is dedicated to implementing protocols has to enhance not only physical health but also a sense of trust and security among the Giraffe Bioenergy team.
Amina Kazungu
Propagation Associate
From the local community, trained at the Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization and experience at Giraffe Bioenergy in novel rapid cassava propagation technologies.
Amina Kenga
Farm Associate
Also from the local community, Amina is invaluable in maintaining daily operations at the Centre for Cassava Excellence.
Imani Naitore
Executive Assistant
Experienced and resourceful executive assistant with a proven track record of providing high-level administrative support to senior executives.
The board
Testimonials
Since working for Giraffe, I have attended training in rapid propagation technology and increased my income. My children enjoy 3 meals a day and I am able to pay school fees. Above all, I love that I am learning each day working hand in hand with a scientist.
Amina Swaleh
Our Impact
Income generation and poverty alleviation for women and communities
Commercial cassava farming provides rural communities, especially women, with opportunities for income generation. By participating in the production and sale of cassava, communities can earn a steady income, which drives investment in education, healthcare, and other basic needs
Food security and nutrition
Cassava is an ideal feedstock for both food and fuel
Giraffe Bioenergy utilises semi-arid, non-fertile land in areas with unreliable rains that are prone to drought and are therefore not suitable for food production. We have adopted and rapidly propagated drought-resistant edible cassava strains developed by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture that can thrive in semi-arid land
Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability
Sustainable cassava commercial farming using improved drought and disease tolerant varieties promotes sustainable practices like soil management, water conservation, and agroforestry, enhancing climate resilience, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability