Globally, new technologies behind digital commerce are continually reshaping the business world’s physical economics of goods and services, as well as employment.
Victoria Keng’ethe, 21, has revolutionized groceries shopping experience by starting an online “mama mboga” platform to deliver farm produce at your doorstep at relatively lower prices.
The third-year law student at Catholic University decided to tap into e-commerce not only to ease the customers from the hustle of visiting market places but also to lower the prices of the products.
She believes cutting off the middlemen who are usually held responsible for farmer’s low share in the consumer rupee and blamed for exploiting the farmers will help in bringing down the prices.
According to her, the platform is acting as a game-changer in the country, with clients having three sets of supply options to subscribe from upon signing up.
A customer can click and order a single basket, or a budget basket or a family basket. The baskets come with various products keenly selected to meet the customers’ needs and to last for a week, all at Sh1500, Sh2500, and Sh3500, respectively
The client is later requested to make payments via various e-wallet options, among them M-pesa, PayPal, and Credit card, among others.
The entrepreneur then sources the selected products from her suppliers in Muthurwa Market, packages, and delivers at the clients’ doorstep via hired bodaboda person for free within 24 hours after when the order was completed.
E-commerce in Kenya has grown significantly over the last few years, especially among small and medium businesses. However, the market is still developing.
Although the formal retail penetration in Kenya is estimated at 30%, the fraction of Kenyans buying products online was only 0.5% but the number is expected to grow.
According to Victoria, the services are available around Karen, Kilimani, Ngong, and its surroundings. She is working on ways to open more dispatch offices across the country to meet the rising demand.
E-commerce in Kenya is more common to the urban and semi-urban populations and still on the rise.
A joint 2016 National ICT Survey between the Authority and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) National ICT Survey established that 39% of private enterprises are engaged in e-commerce.
Though the survey focused only on private enterprises and did not take into account households, for the first time, it was possible to determine e-commerce penetration levels at the national level.
To make purchases you can visit VikkiVeggies.
