Our Teams
We are a collective of strategists, designers, researchers, economists, and innovation experts with global experience and deep local expertise in African markets. We power inclusive and sustainable innovations that exemplify the “Africa Rising” agenda.
We come from diverse cultures and count every laughter, because shaping Africa’s future is a global sport. With our people based across Africa and beyond, we collaborate boldly to turn ideas into action. We are a collective of strategists, designers, researchers, economists, and innovation experts with global experience and deep local expertise in African markets. We power inclusive, highly impactful and sustainable innovations that exemplify the “Africa Rising” agenda.
Drawn from diverse cultures, we celebrate every laugh, because shaping Africa’s future is a global team sport. With our people based across Africa and beyond, we collaborate boldly to turn ideas into action.
Principal Consultants
Irene Wagaki
Irene Wagaki is the CEO of Lime Group Africa. She has over 15 years of experience in development and innovation consulting across Africa.
Irene combines expertise in design, business strategy, and research to advance inclusive finance, the digital economy, agrifinance, climate finance, and supporting small businesses.She is passionate about bridging donor initiatives with private sector innovation to deliver impact in inclusion, sustainability, and gender equity. Recently, her work helped shape partnerships for the Last Mile Money collective, evaluations for Women’s Economic Empowerment programs, and initiatives funded by UNCDF, the Gates Foundation, and the World Bank. She has delivered technical assistance to +30 private institutions including banks, MFIs, SACCOs, fintechs, and startups.
Irene holds a PhD in Finance (ABD), Masters of Business Administration (MBA), and is a CPA (K).
John Wainaina
John is the Director and Lead for Evidence & Analytics at Lime Group Africa. Over the past decade, he has delivered a wide range of socio-economic and policy research for organizations such as the
World Bank, World Economic Forum, ILRI, USAID, GAIN, UNICEF, and Oxfam. He has also authored white papers and other publications including for the Capital Markets Authority, Kenya Dairy Board, Brand Kenya, and USAID-Kenya. As a senior economist, his expertise is trade, agriculture, labor economics, and entrepreneurship. He works closely with data scientists, field teams, and sector experts to apply diverse evaluation techniques, behavioral research, machine learning, and econometric modeling. Prior to that, John served as an adjunct lecturer in economics at leading universities, including the University of Nairobi and United States International University (USIU).
John holds a Master of Arts in Economics and several MEL certifications.
Advisory Team and Consultants
Maureen Wachira
Maureen is a fractional AI and creative manager at Lime Group Africa. Her expertise is in user research, design, and the optimization of digital products.
Her recent work includes payments user research, youth and women-focused studies, and refugee inclusion projects. She also brings experience in design facilitation, prototyping, visualization, field innovation and has co-facilitated capacity-building sessions at Moringa. Maureen holds a Diploma in Design (Moringa School) and a Diploma in Information Technology.
Consulting Associates
Edwin Kiptoo
Edwin is a data manager and analytics consultant at Lime Group Africa with 12 years of experience. He has managed surveys across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
He works with local teams to deliver high-quality data through surveys, interviews, and focus groups. He is skilled in CAPI tools and diverse data analysis. He was previously a Survey Manager at Dalberg Research, where he led 20+ global studies. He holds a BA in Economics.
Catherine Muiruri
Catherine Muiruri is a qualitative researcher at Lime Group Africa with 6 years of experience applying participatory research techniques and managing field logistics in complex rural contexts.
She has supported the documentation of over 30 entrepreneur stories across the last decade, demonstrating a strong understanding of small business ecosystems. Catherine is proficient in qualitative data analysis and thematic coding and brings expertise in project management using a range of digital tools. She holds a B.Com and certifications in use of a variety of project management digital tools.
Associate Consultants
Justus Njeru
Justus Njeru is a climate finance consultant with expertise in agrifinance, rural finance, and value chain analysis. He has over 20 years of consulting experience.
Justus has led or contributed to more than 20 projects in agricultural and climate finance, digital inclusion, and value chain development. He has provided technical assistance on ESG integration and sustainability for financial institutions. His recent work includes engagements with NORCAP, USAID, GIZ, ACELI Africa, and AGRA, spanning more than 20 African countries.
He holds an MBA in Finance, a BSc in Agricultural Resource Economics, and global certifications in Climate Change Mitigation and Climate Science to Action.
Leonard Oruko
Leonard is a renowned impact strategist in the development field with over 30 years of international experience. His work spans strategy, advisory, and research, focusing on agricultural transformation strategy
design, monitoring and impact evaluation, banking, development finance, and enterprise development capacity building. Some of his recent work includes the establishment of fit-for-purpose institutions: the Agricultural Transformation Office (ATO) in Sierra Leone and the ATO in Ethiopia, where he served as the country coordinator.
His extensive M&E experience includes designing learning agendas, implementing results-based frameworks, supporting Mutual Accountability Frameworks, and leading institutional strengthening and capacity building for M&E teams. Leonard holds a PhD and an MA in Economics.
Monicah Wachira
Monicah is a corporate governance, credit and product development expert with over 20 years of experience working with governments, cooperatives and financial institutions including
SACCOs to advance agriculture and rural development. She holds an MBA, a Bachelor’s degree in Cooperative Management and is a Certified Credit Professional (CCP).
Winnie Wakwoma
Winnie has over 20 years of international experience supporting the creation, survival and growth of SMEs and startups through tailored capacity-building programs. At Strathmore Business School,
she leads initiatives such as the Owner Manager Programme and SMEs for Trade. She has mentored over 15 startups in Kenya and Zambia, in sectors; trade, agribusiness. manufacturing, supporting various trade initiatives for the AfCFTA, COMESA and EAC. She is a PhD Candidate in Business strategy and holds an MBA.