Kenyan agritech company Twiga Foods is at the centre of a storm, as it undertakes a significant strategic pivot while facing a raft of serious allegations, including claims of a covert restructuring effort, questionable governance, and a fractious workplace culture.
The company, which made its name by linking farmers directly to informal retailers via a tech-enabled platform, recently announced it has acquired three local fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) distributors — Jumra (Nairobi), Sojpar (Kisumu), and Raisons (Mombasa) — in a move to expand beyond fresh produce and establish itself as a comprehensive distribution platform. Twiga says the acquisitions mark a “strategic realignment” aimed at modernising Kenya’s distribution network.
But this transition comes as the firm faces mounting questions over its financial health and internal operations. A report published by local tech outlet Tech-ish cites a whistleblower who claims the company is pursuing a so-called “soft liquidation” plan under the codename “Project Easter”. According to the report, Twiga is allegedly preparing to wind down its current operations and transfer select assets and staff to a new entity — referred to internally as “NewCo” — by August 2025, in a move the whistleblower says is designed to evade liabilities, including severance obligations and outstanding vendor payments.
Twiga, in a statement attributed to CEO Charles Ballard and shared with Launch Base Africa, has firmly denied all the allegations, describing them as either “factually incorrect” or misinterpretations of internal documents. The company insists it has not initiated any liquidation process, has not formed any entity to bypass liabilities, and is not transferring any assets.
It argues that internal documents referenced in the report relate to scenario planning tied to the integration of the newly acquired firms. These, it says, were prepared as part of due diligence and operational alignment, and do not reflect any intent to downsize the company or avoid legal obligations.
Founded in 2014, Twiga Foods has raised over $160 million from major global investors including Goldman Sachs, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Creadev. The company had positioned itself as a key player in Africa’s B2B agriculture e-commerce space. However, it has faced significant challenges in recent years, including large-scale layoffs in 2023, delayed vendor and staff payments, and a leadership change earlier this year when Charles Ballard replaced co-founder Peter Njonjo as CEO.
The whistleblower’s claims — reportedly supported by internal documents — allege that Twiga is planning to license its brand and customer database to NewCo, vacate its current premium warehouse lease in Tatu City, and switch to a more modest facility in Syokimau while outsourcing logistics. The alleged plan includes mass layoffs, with only a small group of current staff being rehired under the new entity.
In its response, Twiga denies that salaries for current employees have been cut and says no staff have seen reductions in their pay or bonuses. The company says that only newly created entry-level roles — offered to new hires — have adjusted compensation in line with market conditions. It insists these changes were made in full compliance with Kenyan labour laws.
On hiring practices, the whistleblower claims Kenyan professionals have been sidelined in favour of foreign executives, particularly from France, some allegedly lacking relevant experience. Twiga refutes this, saying only three out of its 450 employees are international staff, and that key roles in internal audit, warehousing, finance, planning, and quality control are now held by Kenyans. The company says a Kenyan Chief People Officer will also be joining soon.
A separate point of contention concerns the Tatu City warehouse lease, which the whistleblower describes as overly expensive and agreed under previous leadership for public relations purposes. Twiga acknowledges the lease was signed during a period of aggressive expansion, but defends its cost, pointing to the premium nature of the facility, customised infrastructure, and associated office space. The current leadership and board say they have not found any evidence of corruption or personal benefit linked to the lease.
Despite Twiga’s firm rebuttal, questions remain. The level of detail in the alleged “Project Easter” — including timelines, asset transfers, and workforce reductions — suggests more than just internal scenario planning. There is also a significant discrepancy between Twiga’s assurances about job retention and the whistleblower’s claim that the majority of current employees could lose their jobs as part of the transition to NewCo.
Additionally, while Twiga Foods says it is operating within legal frameworks, observers have called for greater transparency over how many jobs will remain after the integration of its newly acquired distributors, and what the final structure of the company will look like. Kenyan law requires companies to follow strict procedures in the event of redundancies, including severance payouts, which could prove costly if mass layoffs were to occur.
Concerns also linger over Twiga’s financial standing. Although the company raised $35 million in 2023–24, the whistleblower alleges the business has been “bled dry”, with the Tatu City lease described as a critical financial burden that must be resolved for new funding to materialise. Twiga has not disclosed details of its current debt levels, nor how the integration of the acquired firms will impact profitability or cash flow.
The company’s strategic shift — framed as an effort to modernise Kenya’s FMCG distribution and expand its reach — is seen as an important move in a competitive market. However, the gravity of the allegations and the apparent gaps in public information have left stakeholders, including employees, suppliers, and investors, seeking greater clarity.
The coming months will be crucial for Twiga Foods. As it integrates its new acquisitions and the timeline mentioned in the “Project Easter” allegations draws nearer, the company’s response to growing scrutiny will determine whether it can regain trust and secure its future. For now, the company maintains it is compliant with all regulations and committed to responsible business practices.
But with the scale of the claims made, independent oversight and transparent communication may be required to fully address the concerns raised — and to clarify whether Twiga is simply navigating a complex transformation or concealing a more drastic shift in its business model.