Twiga Foods, once one of Kenya's most heavily funded startups, has entered administration after years of financial strain and repeated restructuring efforts. GT Flow Limited, formerly known as Twiga Foods One Limited, was placed under administration on August 17 following a board appointment. The move marks a significant turning point for a company that raised about $185.4 million but never reached profitability.
Administration and Immediate Creditor Process
A gazette notice published on September 11 named Mohamed Mohamed as administrator and gave him control over GT Flow's business, assets and management. Directors can no longer deal with company assets without his permission. Creditors have until October 11, 30 days from the notice, to submit claims to the administrator.
The filing was made under section 541(2) of Kenya's Insolvency Act, meaning the board appointed an administrator without a court order. Administration differs from liquidation, as it offers a moratorium and possible rescue, but the notice does not detail GT Flow's specific assets or liabilities. The administrator said he would engage stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcome.
A Startup Under Financial Pressure
Twiga Foods was founded in 2014 by Peter Njonjo and Grant Brooke to connect farmers and suppliers directly to small shops and kiosks, reducing costly middlemen. The company attracted $185.4 million in disclosed funding, including a $50 million Series C led by Creadev in 2021. Despite that backing, it never became profitable and faced mounting pressure by late 2023.
In December 2023, Twiga closed a $35 million convertible bond backed by Creadev and Juven to pay suppliers and stabilize operations. Co-founder Peter Njonjo then took a sabbatical, invested $1 million of his own money, and left the board in early 2024. Former Jumia executive Charles Ballard took over as chief executive, while further job cuts followed through 2024.
Restructuring, Acquisitions and Layoffs
In 2025, Twiga attempted to reset its business model by acquiring stakes in three Kenyan fast-moving consumer goods distributors, Jumra, Sojpar and Raisons. The plan created a multi-entity group and was intended to shift Twiga toward a leaner, asset-light model focused on informal retailers. Internal documents referred to a proposed new holding company, informally called NewCo, that would sit above the operating businesses.
The restructuring affected more than 300 employees, and workforce data later showed Twiga employed about 2,097 people as of March 2026, down from 3,104 in 2023. In June 2025, Twiga suspended its Nairobi operations for two months and reviewed its distribution network, including a possible exit from Tatu City. By early 2026, creditors had petitioned the High Court to liquidate Twiga Tatu SEZ Limited over unpaid debts.
Unresolved Questions Around the Administration
The gazette notice does not state what GT Flow owes or which assets and liabilities sit within the entity. It is also unclear whether the administration affects Twiga's three acquired distributors or how the company's broader group structure will be treated. Creditors and observers will likely wait for the administrator's proposal after the claims window closes.
Twiga's administration marks the latest downturn for a company that once symbolized Kenya's startup ambitions. Its journey from high-profile funding to job cuts, restructuring and creditor disputes underscores the difficulty of building profitable food distribution at scale. Whether administration can preserve parts of the business remains uncertain, but the process now moves into a structured creditor phase.