Build 45 million litres of ethanol cooking fuel capacity by 2028
Increase the incomes of 5,000 smallholder farmers, mainly women
Improve food security for 20,000 members of the community
Who We Are
Giraffe Bioenergy is a Kenyan-led company transforming cassava into two essentials: clean cooking fuel and abundant food.
We’ve created Kenya’s first fully integrated cassava-to-ethanol value chain—building a local, inclusive solution to food insecurity, dirty fuels, and rural unemployment.
We don't just grow crops—we're growing bioeconomies.
Our Mission & Vision
Our vision is to lead East Africa’s clean energy transition by unlocking cassava’s full potential—for food, fuel, and rural prosperity—with women at the heart of our mission.
Our mission is to scale regenerative agriculture and bioenergy innovation—replacing charcoal and kerosene with locally produced ethanol, one liter at a time.
The Challenge
Kenya faces multiple intersecting challenges:
Food Insecurity
Vast arable land lies idle while hunger persists
Dirty Cooking Fuels
Over 80% of households use charcoal or kerosene
Import Dependence
95% of cooking ethanol is imported.
Environmental Degradation
Over 50 million trees cut annually for charcoal.
Our
Solution
Giraffe Bioenergy bridges agriculture and energy to deliver real change:
Cassava Seedling Innovation
We provide farmers with certified, disease-resistant, high-yield seedlings from our Centre for Cassava Excellence
Regenerative Agriculture
We restore degraded land and improve soil health for long-term food and fuel security
Clean Energy from Crops
We convert cassava into clean-burning ethanol cooking fuel—safe, smokeless, and cost-effective
Women-Centred Growth
Our Block Farmer Model gives women 1-acre plots, training, and guaranteed income
Waste to Value
We generate electricity from biogas and create animal feed from processing by-product
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Our impact by 2026
We're changing the world, one step at a time. By 2026 we'll have achieved:
15 million litres of ethanol produced annually
Over 1000 smallholder farmers supported, majority women
900,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided each year
200 jobs created at our Galana Ethanol Biorefinery Complex
20 million cassava seedlings propagated annually
12% of Kenya's clean cooking ethanol demand met
The Cassava Center for Excellence
Innovation rooted in Kilifi
Our Centre for Cassava Excellence (CCE), in Baricho Ward, is East Africa’s largest cassava nursery. Developed with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the CCE:
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Propagates high-yield, dual disease-resistant cassava varieties
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Trains farmers in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
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Pilots regenerative farming techniques
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Scales cassava seedling supply for both food and fuel markets
Timeline and Growth Goals
Scaling cassava to ethanol cooking fuel for national impact
2025
Revenue begins from cassava seedling sales via NGO and government partners
2026
Launch of our 15M litre per year Galana Ethanol Biorefinery Complex
2027
Expansion to 75M litres per year, cutting imports and charcoal use at scale
Our Work
Discover who we are and what drives us. Find out what we are doing to make our mission a reality.
Meet the team
We are a team of innovators, farmers, and clean energy champions
Founder and CEO
Linda Davis, PhD
Dr Linda has over 20 years experience in several senior executive positions globally leading biorefinery business departments. She has a PhD Degree in Microbiology specialising in producing ethanol from novel technologies.
Mbili Mbebe
Agricultural General Manager
Mbili is a highly accomplished and strategic agribusiness leader and farm manager with over 20 years of experience in managing large-scale agricultural operations, including crop production, resource management, and team leadership
Farm Coordinator
Mark Kaloki
Mark has over 15 years of experience in the agricultural field, having worked in a range of positions to support and encourage excellence in production.
Ruth Masika
Lead Trainer and Extension Officer
Ruth has had long experience in empowering communities with agricultural best practice, having previously worked as a field officer with One Acre Fund. Ruth’s patient guidance and innovative teaching methods, have been a boon to the block farmer program.
Christine Mutoni, PhD
Cassava- Cassava Expert, IITA point of Contact
Christine earned a Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Nairobi, specializing in creating disease-resistant cassava varieties. With extensive agricultural research experience, she's dedicated to enhancing cassava farming through ongoing scientific engagement.
Juma Keya
Health & Safety Officer & Data Collection Specialist
Juma is a leader in the realm of health and safety. He is dedicated to implementing protocols has to enhance not only physical health but also a sense of trust and security among the Giraffe Bioenergy team.
Amina Kenga
Irrigation Supervisor
Also from the local community, Amina is invaluable in maintaining daily operations at the Centre for Cassava Excellence.
Amina Kazungu
Nethouse Supervisor
From the local community, trained at the Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization and experience at Giraffe Bioenergy in novel rapid cassava propagation technologies.
Imani Naitore
Executive Assistant
Experienced and resourceful executive assistant with a proven track record of providing high-level administrative support to senior executives.
Meet the Board
News & Insights
Africa’s clean energy projects face high capital costs, making them up to four times more expensive than in the US or Europe. In The Flip's The Greenprint, our Founder & CEO, Linda Davis, PhD, discusses the challenges of scaling renewable energy in Africa and how to close the climate funding gap.
Giraffe Bioenergy is addressing energy access and gender inequality by equipping local women with the tools and training to lead in the bioenergy sector. Through sustainable, community-driven solutions, these initiatives are advancing clean energy while creating meaningful economic opportunities for women.