Kenyan startup Msossi is launching this month with a digital platform designed to reduce food waste by connecting supermarkets, restaurants, and hotels with consumers seeking discounted surplus and near-expiry food. The app offers a tech-driven solution to a problem that costs the country billions of shillings each year.
Kenya loses an estimated 30–40% of all food produced annually to spoilage and expiry, highlighting inefficiencies across the supply chain. Msossi leverages a digital marketplace to turn potential losses into revenue for businesses while providing affordable options for consumers and supporting sustainability goals.
“Supermarkets lose between 5–12% of fresh food, and restaurants up to 30%,” said Kevin Otiende, Msossi co-founder and CEO. “Our platform allows quick sales of surplus stock, helping businesses recoup revenue and consumers access lower-cost nutrition.”
The app also tracks measurable impact—food saved, meals rescued, and carbon emissions reduced—providing data for ESG reporting and positioning the startup at the intersection of technology, commerce, and sustainability. Investors and analysts say Msossi exemplifies a growing trend in Africa: using tech to solve structural inefficiencies while unlocking new market opportunities.
The startup arrives at a moment when mobile adoption and digital payments are reshaping Kenya’s retail landscape. With smartphone penetration exceeding 80% and mobile money deeply integrated into consumer behavior, Msossi is well-positioned to scale rapidly across urban centers and eventually into smaller towns.
Beyond immediate economic gains, the platform could influence consumer habits, encouraging more price-conscious and environmentally aware purchasing decisions. Analysts suggest that success in Kenya could provide a blueprint for other African markets facing similar food loss challenges, creating opportunities for partnerships with multinational food retailers and NGOs focused on sustainability.
