Janet Otieno

Janet is a Kenyan entrepreneur and ecosystem builder whose work has consistently centered on creating opportunities for women and communities to thrive. Boda Girls resonates with her deeply because it mirrors her own journey, designing women-led solutions that expand access, dignity, and voice in sectors where women have traditionally been left out.

Her career spans over a decade across startups, advisory, and gender-lens investment. As Co-Founder of Kisafi, one of East Africa’s first tech-enabled home services platforms, Janet helped create dignified income opportunities for over 300 women and youth gig workers. By building safety protocols, digital literacy pathways, and new income streams, Kisafi not only delivered convenience to households but also elevated overlooked workers into the informal gig economy sector.

She later co-founded Arrai, a digital fashion marketplace, where she built a collaborative ecosystem for local and regional fashion vendors. Through this work, Janet championed creative entrepreneurs, enabling them to access wider markets and unlock growth beyond traditional retail barriers.

Most recently, Janet has worked at the forefront of inclusive mobility and impact investing. As General Manager and Strategic Advisor at Kiri EV, she played a pivotal role in positioning the startup in Kenya’s e-mobility sector, unlocking financing partnerships and advocating for gender-inclusive transport solutions. At Supivaa Advisory, she supported ventures across healthtech, fintech, and climate-smart agriculture with investor readiness, market expansion, and capital structuring—ensuring that women’s voices and gender-lens strategies are integrated at the heart of investment conversations.

Across all these roles, Janet has demonstrated a unique ability to combine entrepreneurial grit, systems-level vision, and a passion for women’s empowerment. She believes that by reimagining access to transport, finance, and dignified work, women can become not just participants but leaders in shaping healthier, more equitable communities.

Reason for Joining Boda Girls:
I am passionate about unlocking economic dignity and mobility for women, particularly in underserved communities. Joining the Boda Girls Kenya Board is a natural alignment with my personal mission and professional focusing ind driving systems change through gender-lens investing, entrepreneurship, and inclusive mobility solutions. I believe deeply in the power of transport as a lever for health access, economic empowerment, and safety for women. Serving on the Board would allow me to contribute to a model I respect, and to a movement that is both practical and visionary in its impact.