Naivasha Young Investors: Fresh Produce and Stronger Local Food Systems

Food security begins at the local level, and Naivasha Young Investors understands that
better than most. Led by Bornfas Isaya Wandeka and based in Naivasha, Nakuru County,this youth-led enterprise is focused on producing fresh, nutritious vegetables usingclimate-smart farming practices. Their core products are managu (African nightshade) andspinach, two staple vegetables with deep roots in Kenyan food culture and significantdemand in local markets. Their customers include the Mama Mbogas who form thebackbone of Kenya's informal food retail economy, as well as local hotels servingcommunities on a daily basis. By supplying these buyers with consistent, quality produce,Naivasha Young Investors is contributing directly to stronger and more reliable local foodsystems.
The choice to focus on indigenous and nutritious leafy vegetables is itself a meaningful one.Managu and spinach are culturally significant, nutritionally rich and well-suited to thegrowing conditions of the Naivasha area. By growing them through climate-smartapproaches, the enterprise is also building resilience into its production model, ensuringthat its output is not only dependable but sustainable. This combination of culturalrelevance, nutritional value and climate-conscious practice reflects the kind of thoughtfulenterprise development that the PINCA-Y program was designed to support.
Naivasha Young Investors is one of 26 enterprises in the PINCA-Y 2026 cohort, a programimplemented by Mt Kenya Hub with the support of DanChurchAid Kenya. We are proud tosupport Bornfas and his team as they build a youth-led food enterprise that serves theircommunity, strengthens local food systems and demonstrates what climate-smartagriculture can look like in practice.