Three Kenyan companies – Skyward Airlines, Freight-In-Time, and Nao Packaging Solutions – are showing that innovation, resilience, and technology can drive incredible transformation.

Skyward Airlines took its first flight with a single aeroplane in 2013, and today it boasts a fleet of 18 aircraft, connecting cities and remote airstrips across Kenya and East Africa. With over 30,000 passengers and operating from Wilson and JKIA, the airline is blending traditional aviation with modern technology. They have adopted AI-driven predictive analytics that help optimise operations and navigate industry turbulence.

Still within JKIA premises, Freight-In-Time, a logistics company, has been a game-changer in regional supply chain solutions. Despite facing challenges like policy changes and customs delays, the company’s strategic partnerships with Safaricom have turned things around.

The partnership has enhanced communication, better cash management, and reliable email hosting. This has streamlined the logistics firm’s services and opened doors for future growth.

And along the bustling Ladhies Road, in downtown Nairobi, Nao Packaging Solutions is making waves in sustainable packaging. Launched in 2019 by David Mbugua Maina, the once-small startup now distributes eco-friendly packaging across Kenya and employs 25 people. David credits technology, especially M-PESA, Tills, and fibre internet, for aiding him in overcoming funding challenges, expanding his market, and running a more efficient business.

Watch the video to see how these local entrepreneurs are doing it.