Kijani Supplies

Kijani Supplies is a startup launched by Purple Elephant Ventures (PEV), a venture studio at the intersection of tech, climate, and African tourism based in Nairobi, Kenya, and another investee of the Reset Tourism Fund. Kijani Supplies is a B2B logistics and supply chain platform transforming how the hospitality sector in Kenya orders and accesses its goods and supplies. Kijani Supplies sources from local eco-friendly suppliers, consolidates, and stocks products at their warehouse, then lodges from the Maasai Mara can come to collect their orders or have them delivered to their doorstep.

The Kijani Supplies Origin Story:
Kijani Supplies was born out of the many PEV’s ideation sessions. Initially conceived as “eco-supplies,” the goal was to address the scarcity of suppliers offering eco-friendly products in tourism ecosystems with the Maasai Mara as a strong case in point.

Through an exhaustive ideation session inclusive of stakeholder engagement in the industry, the concept transformed into a broader mission: to offer a one-stop-shop concept for all items consumed by these businesses.

Two primary issues from stakeholder engagement informed the push forward: (1) lodges having to travel 500 km to and from Nairobi to get their supplies, and (2) the absence of a single, comprehensive supplier offering all the required products.

Kijani Supplies welcomed Mwangi Muriuki as its CEO and Co-Founder in the summer of 2023. Mwangi had previously co-founded a business focused on the manufacture and supply of sustainable food packaging material. He says, “The conversations around joining Kijani aligned with my values around sustainability and the challenge of pushing the boundaries within the startup ecosystem.”

How Kijani Supplies is Making an Impact:
Kijani Supplies is turning Africa’s hospitality industry green! As a one-stop shop for lodges to procure supplies, Kijani provides lodges with efficient and convenient access to the products they need by removing the hassle of engaging multiple suppliers and providing last-mile delivery to its customers.

Plus, Kijani is growing the businesses of their suppliers who produce high-quality eco-friendly products, creating more demand for sustainable supplies. For example, Kijani stocks room amenities from the African Agency for Arid Resources Limited (Agar Ltd) whose JUA line uses indigenous aloe from Kenya’s dry lands, packaged in both single-use and refillable bottles. Kijani also works with Grounded, a green manufacturer of non-toxic cleaning solutions powered by biodegradable Kenyan ingredients and packaged using either 100% recycled plastic or glass. These are just a couple of Kijani’s incredible local partners, all working together to create positive impact through local purchasing.

The company also introduced Kijani Fresh Produce, delivering farm-fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, and dairy products to its customers.

How you can Connect with Kijani Supplies:
Learn more about Kijani Supplies on their website. You can also follow Kijani Supplies on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to receive updates and share their stories on your own platforms. And, check out Purple Elephant Ventures and peruse their website to see what other start-ups they have launched!