After extensive research in Kenya’s rural areas, Haron Wachira founded Akili Holdings, a highly automated and distributed company, deliberately structured to be primarily owned by subsistence farmers of Kenya’s rural areas. Wachira was elected an Ashoka Fellow in 2010 for his ‘entire value chain’ intervention model for rural wealth creation. Previously, in 2005, he was awarded a ‘Head of State Commendation’ by President Mwai Kibaki for his innovative contributions in the water sector while he served as Chairman of the Tana Water Services Board. Two of those contributions involved the introduction of a Rapid Results Initiative as a way of fast-tracking implementation of projects and the design and introduction of the eWater Initiative, a pilot implementation of an integrated ICT system for the water sector. Wachira has worked as a writer and editor for Step magazine, an IT/ Technical Services Manager and, later, associate consultant at Price Waterhouse / PricewaterhouseCoopers, management/ICT consultant, and systems implementer. He speaks in entrepreneurship workshops, mentors young people and also serves as an elder in a church that promotes holistic development.
