Judith Owigar, the founder of JuaKali (right) with the former U.S. President Barack Obama when he visited Kenya. Photo credit: Levers in Heels
Judith Owigar, Kenya
Judith Owigar is a popular Kenyan coder, tech enthusiast and blogger. She is the founder of JuaKali, a digital platform for skilled blue-collar workers in Kenya. She founded the company in 2012 with the aim of connecting service providers in the informal sector with companies and individual customers. So far, the platform has over 60,000 active users.
Miss Owigar is a graduate of the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. While at the university, Owigar co-founded a chapter of Kenya Model United Nations, a club that promotes international diplomacy among young people in the country. She is also the founder of Akirachix, an organization that mentors young female tech gurus through training and networking.
The rising number of tech startups owned by women in Africa is a clear indication that African women are poised to transform the technology industry, which was initially thought to be a preserve of the menfolk.
