Esther Kimani

Esther Kimani is a notable Kenyan innovator and the CEO of FarmerLifeline Technologies, a company focused on addressing agricultural challenges using cutting-edge technology.

In 2024, she was awarded the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation by the Royal Academy of Engineering for her pioneering work. 

Her solar-powered device utilises artificial intelligence to help farmers detect and manage pests and diseases, which can reduce crop losses by up to 30% and increase yields by 40%​.

The device employs cutting-edge computer vision algorithms and machine learning to identify crop pests and diseases. It provides real-time alerts within seconds of detection and offers customised intervention advice using SMS. 

This new award was in culmination of the previous year when Esther won the Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award in 2023.

The latter recognised her efforts to help smallholder farmers with her technology. 

Her impact has already been felt by over 60,000 farmers in Kenya, and she aims to expand her solution to reach more than one million farmers across the continent.

Her work continues to resonate, not only because of the technology itself but also due to her vision of a more sustainable and prosperous future for Africa's agricultural sector.