Lesley Mbogo, co-founder and CEO of GoBEBA, is transforming how Kenyan households access essential utilities. With a strong engineering and product management background, she has held leadership roles at Amazon and IBM Research Labs, earning four technology patents during her tenure at IBM. She also led mobile platform initiatives for M-KOPA Solar in Kenya, further deepening her expertise in digital solutions for essential services.
Founding GoBEBA
Mbogo identified a pressing challenge in Nairobi’s utility supply chain—residents struggled to procure drinking water and cooking gas due to traffic congestion, unpredictable availability, and safety concerns. Recognising the inefficiencies of traditional retail channels, she partnered with Peter Ndiang’ui, a former OLX general manager, to launch GoBEBA in 2019.
GoBEBA was founded to modernise Africa’s utility supply chain and ensure a reliable and efficient distribution infrastructure to support rapid urban growth.
How GoBEBA works
GoBEBA specialises in distributing unpiped utilities, primarily drinking water and cooking gas. The company ensures safety and reliability by sourcing gas directly from brands that maintain their cylinders through continuous revalidation as required by law, partnering with ethical water brands that adhere to high purification and packaging standards, and safely storing and delivering these essentials via a network of micro-fulfilment hubs.
A key differentiator is GoBEBA’s AI-enabled inventory management system, which ensures customers receive deliveries within an hour of ordering. This tech-driven model eliminates inefficiencies in traditional retail and significantly enhances convenience for urban dwellers.
Growth and Expansion
Mbogo’s customer-first approach has resulted in impressive growth metrics, with monthly active users doubling in recent months, a 70% repeat customer rate indicating strong brand loyalty, and a robust technology stack optimising logistics for faster service.
GoBEBA’s innovation and scalability have attracted major institutional investors, including Madica and Praxis, as well as grants from DevelopPPP.
In April 2024, the company secured a $200,000 investment from Madica as part of its first funding round. This investment will fuel expansion efforts, with plans to expand to four additional Kenyan cities in the next two years, enter East and Central African markets, and introduce a workplace essentials procurement portal, streamlining corporate and SME procurement processes.
A new era for utility distribution in Africa
Lesley Mbogo’s innovative leadership at GoBEBA is setting new standards for utility distribution in African cities. She is making essential utilities more accessible, safer, and more convenient, paving the way for a digitised and efficient supply chain across the continent.
