Kenyan startup Qhala has positioned itself as a leader in driving digital transformation for governments, corporates, and NGOs across Africa. Founded in 2020 by computer scientist Dr. Shikoh Gitau, the company was created to bridge a critical skills and capacity gap in digital strategy and innovation. Unlike off-the-shelf solutions that often overlook local contexts, Qhala provides bespoke, research-driven services designed to modernize operations and improve lives through technologies such as AI, cloud, blockchain, and data-driven strategies.
Since its inception, Qhala has expanded its impact through initiatives such as QLab, Qubit Hub, and Q Trust, while working with a wide range of partners. Notably, the company collaborated with the Ministry of Health and the University of Nairobi to develop Kenya’s COVID-19 modeling platform, which was a vital tool in helping policymakers manage the pandemic. Qhala has also played a key role in digital innovation projects, including iHelix, a corporate-startup collaboration platform, and in advancing AI literacy and policy across Africa, contributing to milestones such as the Africa AI Declaration.
Qhala’s influence is reflected in its diverse partnerships with global and regional leaders, including the Gates Foundation, Huawei, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Britam, and Caribou Digital Media. Its iHelix program has been adopted by leading corporations like Safaricom PLC, Kenya Airways, Stanbic Bank Zambia, AAR Insurance, Britam, and Nation Media Group. By shaping national-level digital strategies, innovation management programs, hackathons, and policy workshops, Qhala has proven its unique role as more than a tech provider—it is a trusted advisor helping organizations navigate digital transformation in ways that are iterative, evidence-based, and locally relevant.
Though headquartered in Kenya, Qhala’s reach extends across Africa, including Rwanda, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Cameroon, and Botswana, as well as into the UK and the US. By monetising through consulting contracts, the startup continues to sustain its growth while remaining self-funded by its projects. What began as a bold idea in a coffee shop has now become a pan-African consultancy redefining how digital transformation is executed. Qhala’s story is not only about technology but about trust, resilience, and the power of innovation to shape Africa’s future.
Kenya’s Qhala Supports Governments, Corporates in Digital Transformation
