Amanya Kuchio became a motorbike rider in 2018 out of the desperate need to beat the crazy Nairobi traffic.

She wanted to spend more time with her family but the daily snarl-ups – some that would take up over five hours of her time a day – were a hindrance.

It was while riding on her bike that an idea – a delivery and errands service – came to her. However, the idea stayed in her mind but tugged at her heart until the end of 2019, when Amanya and her friend Njeri Mbogo were reviewing their lives and plans.

Both had always wanted to get into the courier and errands business but had not been motivated enough to get things going.

They decided to act on the idea by first learning the ropes. This saw Amanya set out to work as a courier for another company.

“We realized there is a gap in professionalism and reliability in the industry,” says Amanya.

Femme Logistics was born early 2020 to provide professionalism and reliability in the male-dominated industry. Unlike their competitors, the firm has an all-female staff of eight.

Courier companies have been among the biggest gainers in popularity during the pandemic as the appetite for delivery services grew and the market became more accustomed to e-commerce.

They have expanded their network across the country, getting customers through social media and easing payments through mobile money, and they are pleased with their journey so far.

Here is their story.