About Ohala Africa

Ohala Africa is a mission-driven nonprofit organization working at the intersection of practice and policy to inspire new thinking on Africa’s economic development. Rooted in Kenya’s Lake Victoria Region, our work is informed by deep, on-the-ground engagement—translating local realities into bold, actionable insights that speak to broader continental challenges and opportunities.

We focus on unlocking the economic, social, and environmental potential of strategic value chains—starting with aquaculture and the blue economy—while building models of collaboration that can be replicated across Africa. Through strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, enterprise development, and catalytic investment, we support community-driven solutions and foster systems-level change.

Since our inception, Ohala Africa has played a pivotal role in organizing stakeholders within the aquaculture sector. In 2023, we led the establishment of the Lake Victoria Aquaculture (LVA) Association, now the leading platform for private sector engagement, policy dialogue, and collective action in Kenya’s aquaculture ecosystem. Through the LVA Association, we’ve challenged regressive regulations, convened national forums, and shaped legislation to better serve fish farmers, processors, and input providers.

Building on this momentum, wwe are now advancing the Sustainable Aquaculture Financing Initiative (SAFI), a transformative blue economy project . Branded as the Ohala SAFI Project, this public-interest–private-sector initiative aims to catalyze inclusive economic growth while safeguarding the ecological health of Lake Victoria.

The name “Ohala SAFI” reflects THE Project/s mission: ‘Safi’—Swahili for clean—symbolizes transparency, sustainability, and environmental care, while ‘Ohala’—Luo for business—grounds the initiative in the local cultural and economic context. Together, “Ohala Safi” stands for clean, responsible business—a mindset the project aims to instill among riparian communities as they become stewards of both economic opportunity and the lake’s fragile ecosystem.

The project targets micro, small, and medium aquaculture enterprises across Kenya’s five riparian counties by integrating affordable financial services, tailored business development support, and environmental stewardship education into a unified delivery platform.

As we deepen our local engagements, we are also expanding our continental voice. In early 2025, Ohala Kenya initiated Africa’s Moment, a flagship campaign anchored in the revised edition of the influential book by our founder, Pete Ondeng. This initiative is more than a publication—it is a cultural and intellectual movement to rewrite Africa’s narrative by challenging despair, celebrating dignity, and inspiring generational change.

Through all our work, we remain grounded in place and committed to purpose—building bridges from local insight to continental transformation.