Two Kenyan firms join African nature-economy accelerator targeting $10m investment
Acacia EPZ and ForestFoods
Acacia EPZ and ForestFoods are among five enterprises selected for a 12-month programme designed to bridge the gap between donor funding and commercial capital.
By Rose Njeri
Two Kenyan enterprises — gum arabic exporter Acacia EPZ and agroforestry farming group ForestFoods — have been selected for the inaugural cohort of the Nature-First Innovation Lab, a 12-month investment-readiness accelerator targeting nature-positive African businesses with a collective fundraising goal of approximately $10 million.
The programme is run by FSD Africa in partnership with Systemiq and the African Natural Capital Alliance, and backed by UK International Development and Norway’s development agency Norad. All five selected enterprises share a common characteristic: their revenues depend directly on healthy land, forests and soils.
Acacia EPZ, founded in 2015 by Sam Ombogo Nyamboga, exports gum arabic used in soft drinks, confectionery and medicines. With Sudan’s supply disrupted by conflict, Acacia has emerged as a traceable, conflict-free alternative, growing revenues by 56 per cent in two years. ForestFoods practises syntropic agroforestry near Limuru, Naivasha and Naro Moru, integrating trees, crops and livestock to regenerate land.
Dorothy Maseke, head of the African Natural Capital Alliance Secretariat at FSD Africa, identified a persistent funding bottleneck the programme aims to resolve. “These five enterprises are already established and generating revenue. What they need now is support to get investment-ready,” she said.
With an estimated 62 per cent of Africa’s GDP dependent on nature, the stakes reach far beyond five companies.
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- Mt Kenya Times ePAPER October 31 – November 1, 2026
- Waiguru to commission Kianyaga Level IV hospital and eyes deputy president seat
- Gachagua, Kalonzo and Wamalwa take opposition campaign to Juja in Kiambu
- Ronaldo closes in on 1,000 goals with Al-Nassr hat-trick
- Thieves raid Munich air disaster memorial, stealing medals and sculpture
About the Author
