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When James Nyamai stood to be recognized at the Commonwealth Headquarters in London this September, it was more than a personal milestone. It captured the spirit of African innovation rooted in resilience, purpose, and faith.
James’ journey began in the rural farmlands of Kenya where smallholder farmers struggle with a persistent challenge: post harvest losses.
Each year, 30% of the food harvested goes to waste because farmers cannot sell or preserve their produce in time.
For James, the problem was personal. His mother had joined a pumpkin farming initiative that promised strong yields and ready markets. The yields came, but the markets did not. She was left with 50 tons of hybrid pumpkins. Others in the area were also scammed, flooding the market.
Determined to help, James was determined to find a way to save his mother’s crop. What if they could dry the pumpkins and turn them into flour?
Unfortunately, traditional solar dryers proved unreliable during Kenya’s rainy seasons, and imported options were too expensive. A trained engineer, James built his own. The finished product was a hybrid solar biomass dehydrator, a sustainable innovation that dries produce efficiently even in low sunlight.
That breakthrough became the foundation of BioAfriq Energy, which now provides Dehydration-as-a-Service (DaaS) to smallholder farmers, ensuring food safety and market access while reducing post-harvest losses.
James soon realized that preserving harvests was only part of the solution. The next step was value addition, turning dried produce into nutritious, market-ready food. Together with his wife, Doreen Achieng, they founded Taliana Foods Limited, a company processing indigenous African crops such as cassava, millet, and sweet potato into gluten-free, nutrient-rich flours.
Taliana Foods is driven by innovation and inclusion. Its latest breakthrough, a ready-to-cook gluten-free flour that requires no kneading, makes healthy eating both convenient and affordable.
By sourcing directly from local farmers and adding value within Kenya, Taliana ensures that the benefits of agriculture are shared across the supply chain, from farm to table.
As James explains, “At BioAfriq, we help farmers preserve what they harvest. At Taliana, we ensure it becomes food that nourishes families.”
Together, the two enterprises create a circular ecosystem from farm preservation to finished product increasing incomes, reducing food losses, building climate resilience, and strengthening Kenya’s food systems.
Graduates of the Sinapis Entrepreneur Academy and Fast Track programs, James credits Sinapis with refining his vision and equipping him with the business and leadership tools needed to scale. From evaluating finances to employee processes and compliance to marketing, James continues to implement the lessons he learned.
“When we need to make investments in machinery, we go back to what we learned in the course and evaluate our cashflow calculations to determine if the timing is right.”
But perhaps the most impactful concept James took away from his Sinapis training was the idea of being a Kingdom business and how, through implementing Kingdom principles, it is possible to impact your community and even country. James says, “In Kenya, we are working toward eradicating corruption. How do we eradicate corruption if we do not implement Kingdom principles in our businesses and train our employees to do the same?”
Soon after his first Sinapis graduation in 2019, James won KSh 1.5 million ($11,600 USD) from Total Startup to expand local fabrication capacity for his hybrid dryers. Then in 2021, he was awarded KSh 1 mission ($7,700 USD) in additional seed funding from the Sinapis Business Competition.
In 2025, James joined the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship in Accra, Ghana—a program connecting leading African entrepreneurs with global mentors and investors. His recent recognition at the Commonwealth Headquarters in London affirms how far determination, innovation, and faith can go when supported by the right training and networks. James shared, “Innovation and entrepreneurship are not just about building solutions; they are about people, courage, and the partnerships that make ideas sustainable.”
Through Sinapis, James and Doreen also found a community of faith driven entrepreneurs who share their belief that business can be both profitable and purposeful. “Sinapis helped me see that entrepreneurship is ministry,” James says.
Recently, James and Doreen attended Sinapis’ Generosity Celebration Gala, an event honoring and igniting generosity in the builders of East Africa’s economy. James reflected, “Walking with Sinapis over the years has been more than just a partnership—it has been a transformational journey. Sinapis has been instrumental in shaping and refining my vision of building not just a business, but a Kingdom business: one that creates impact, uplifts communities, and glorifies God through entrepreneurship.”
“Walking with Sinapis over the years has been more than just a partnership—it has been a transformational journey. Sinapis has been instrumental in shaping and refining my vision of building not just a business, but a Kingdom business: one that creates impact, uplifts communities, and glorifies God through entrepreneurship.”
Sinapis derives its name from the Latin word for the mustard seed. Jesus taught that although the mustard seed is small, it grows into a tree that provides rest and shelter. We believe Kingdom businesses follow this same pattern. As they grow, they become a source of provision for many and help communities flourish driving economic and spiritual growth.
James and Doreen are turning local challenges into scalable, sustainable solutions. Growing beyond Kenya, they now also serve Uganda and Sierra Leone.
By helping farmers preserve their harvests, creating inclusive food products, and proving that African innovation can meet global standards, James and Doreen are charting a path toward food systems that are not only resilient but redemptive—systems that steward resources wisely, create dignity, and multiply opportunity.
Stories like this are made possible by partners who believe that equipping entrepreneurs with business excellence and biblical values can transform entire economies.
Will you join Sinapis in our mission to make disciples and alleviate poverty through the power of entrepreneurship?
As James says, “The best is yet to come.”
