Kenyan Entrepreneur Taps Essential Oils to Drive Green Jobs and Exports

At the Nairobi International Trade Fair, the spotlight is on Gathoni Maitai, founder of Xplo Enterprises, a Nairobi-based company pioneering essential oil extraction and value addition — the only enterprise of its kind in Kenya.

Maitai’s venture was inspired by the realization that Kenya’s herbs were largely exported as raw materials, leaving farmers with limited earnings. She saw the opportunity in essential oils — low-input, high-value products — and launched Xplo Enterprises to process herbs locally and create more value in the country.

The firm now produces tea tree, rosemary, citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and frankincense oils, alongside hydrosols, mosquito repellent candles, and petroleum jelly, all certified by KEBS. While the candles, jelly, and hydrosols are sold in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Sudan, the essential oils are being positioned for export markets, with trade leads already emerging from the EAC exhibition in Juba through support from the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA).

Xplo Enterprises is also having a social impact. The company works with 16 contract farmers, mostly women and youth, providing training in climate-smart agriculture and good farming practices. This not only guarantees raw material supply but also creates green jobs and sustainable livelihoods.

Through MSEA’s backing, Maitai has showcased her products at regional fairs, gaining visibility and market linkages. She says her vision is to harness Kenya’s natural resources to transform local communities while delivering world-class products to regional and global markets.