Cultivating
Sustainable Futures

Laila Achieng, Connecting Kenyan farmers to global markets

With over 18 years of experience in logistics, international trade, and agribusiness, Laila Achieng has built businesses driven by a central question: how can African farmers access global markets more effectively and competitively? She is the Chief Executive Officer of CNS Nutrifoods and Trio Link Logistics Limited, two Kenyan enterprises strengthening Africa’s agrifood value chains.At CNS Nutrifoods, Laila leads the export of premium Kenyan products such as avocados, cashew nuts, vegetables, and herbs. The company works closely with farmers, focusing on quality, traceability, and responsible sourcing to meet international market requirements and unlock higher-value opportunities.Beyond fresh produce exports, CNS Nutrifoods is gradually moving toward value addition, processing, and shelf-life improvement. This approach aims to reduce post-harvest losses and increase returns along the value chain, ensuring that growth benefits producers as well as the business.Logistics is a core pillar of Laila’s work. Through Trio Link Logistics Limited, she supports exporters in navigating international trade by providing export readiness, compliance support, and supply chain coordination. The company increasingly integrates digital tools, data analytics, and AI-driven solutions to improve efficiency and transparency.By combining agribusiness and logistics, Laila has developed a complementary business model that addresses key challenges faced by African SMEs, including fragmented supply chains and high transaction costs. Her work reflects a strong commitment to African-led solutions built on partnerships, robust systems, and market-driven strategies.An alumna of Harvard CORe and USIU Africa’s MBA programme, Laila Achieng exemplifies how locally rooted enterprises can create sustainable value while positioning African agriculture as a credible player in global food markets.Laila Achieng shared her entrepreneurial journey during Innovation Session N°25, organised by PAFO and COLEAD which explored how foresight can equip african agrifood entrepreneurs to anticipate key changes, climate impacts, demographic pressures, digital transitions, safety requirements and respond proactively.Join the Climate resilience conversation on the Agrinnovators Forum.This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.