A Kisumu-based entrepreneur is leveraging digital innovation to expand opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through a food and grocery delivery platform that is steadily carving a niche in the lakeside city.
Eats by Kai, a locally developed application that has been operational for five months, connects customers, restaurants and independent couriers, creating a digital marketplace designed to promote inclusivity within the local economy.
Unlike conventional platforms, it also operates largely on a concierge model, enabling it to fulfil customer requests beyond its fixed merchant partnerships.
The platform’s founder, 26-year-old Daghlas Kaire Kenyatta, says the venture is rooted in a personal mission to give back to his hometown.
“I’ve always believed that if you have the skills, you should use them to improve where you come from,” he said.
Born and raised in Kisumu, Kenyatta pursued software engineering at the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton. Although he did not study Information Technology in high school, he says his passion for technology was reignited during his university years, inspiring him to develop solutions with tangible community impact.
Since its launch, Eats by Kai has onboarded a number of local businesses, providing them with an online presence and access to a wider customer base in a market where digital adoption among SMEs remains uneven.
The platform currently works with four couriers on a rotational basis, with two typically handling daily operations depending on demand.
On average, the service processes between eight and 12 orders weekly, with peak days recording up to six deliveries.
Kenyatta said the business operates on a three-sided commission model, charging 10 per cent on restaurant sales, 10 per cent from courier partnerships and a seven per cent service fee per order placed by customers.
He invested approximately Sh100,000 to establish the platform, relying heavily on his technical expertise to minimise development and engineering costs at the startup stage.
Despite operating in a market dominated by global players such as Glovo and Uber Eats, Kenyatta says Eats by Kai is differentiating itself through a hyper-local approach that prioritises personalised service, flexibility and long-term partnerships with local businesses.
“Our goal is to market the platform, polish our service delivery and steadily grow the number of daily orders,” he said.
He added that the short-term plan is to expand partnerships to at least 15 SMEs within Kisumu before gradually venturing into other major towns.
Beyond business growth, the platform is also contributing to youth employment by engaging young people as delivery riders while fostering digital inclusion among small enterprises that may not have access to large-scale platforms.
By combining technology with local insight, Kenyatta says the initiative seeks to demonstrate how homegrown innovation can address everyday challenges while strengthening community livelihoods.
“Technology is not just about building apps,” he said. “It’s about creating opportunity and transforming communities.”
By Dorothy Pamella
