In the rolling hills and semi-arid zones of Kenya, water is power, and innovation is seed. For Grekkon Limited – Irrigation Hub, based in Nairobi with branches in counties like Nyeri, Eldoret, Kisumu, Mombasa and Nyandarua; that seed has taken strong root. Their mission? To build resilient farms through irrigation systems, sustainable technologies, and climate-smart practices that transform small and medium-scale agribusiness across Kenya and East Africa.
Founding and Vision
Grekkon was founded in 2013 by agripreneurs keenly aware of the struggles farmers face when the skies don’t deliver and the land is thirsty. Smallholder farmers had no access; neither to affordable tech nor reliable advice tailored to their scale. Grekkon stepped into that gap. Their tagline, ‘Climate Smart Agricultural Solutions,’ isn’t just marketing fluff, it’s central to everything they do. “We realized that farmers could lower costs and increase yields simply by using water smarter. That is why we exist, to make every drop count,” says Jane Mumbi, Grekkon Limited’s irrigation hub lead.
From the start, Grekkon specialized in irrigation systems design and installation, greenhouse construction, dam liners, solar water pumps, shade nets, post-harvest drying, and borehole drilling. Their goal: make agriculture not only productive but sustainable — with technologies that conserve water, save inputs, and give farmers certainty in a climate of uncertainty.
Products and Solutions: Making Technology Reach The Ground
Here is how Grekkon walks the talk.
Drip irrigation kits: From small kitchen gardens to half- or full-acre farms, Grekkon supplies drip kits that deliver water precisely where plants need it; minimizing evaporation and maximizing yield. They offer kits customized by size and crop type (onions, cabbage, fruit trees, et cetera).
Rain hose and rain-gun sprinklers: Overhead systems for areas unsuitable for drip lines. These help in vegetables, grasses, or large field crops. Rain gun sprinklers can cover wide radii and are especially useful when uniform irrigation is needed.
Dam liners for water harvesting: In areas with seasonal water flows or run-off, sealed liners ensure water isn’t lost to seepage. Farmers use them to store water during rainy seasons for use when dry.
Solar water pumps: For power-constrained areas, Grekkon offers solar powered pumps that reduce operational cost and carbon emissions. Combined with drip systems, these can turn marginal land into productive fields.
Greenhouses, shade netting and insect/bird nets: Protection of high-value crops from extreme weather and pests, hence improving yields and quality.
Solar dryers, mulching paper, seedling trays and cocopeat media: These are part of their post-harvest and production support. Solar dryers reduce losses of produce; mulch paper helps conserve soil moisture.
Reaching The Farmer: Activation, Education and Partnerships
Grekkon doesn’t just drop products, they also build relationships. They conduct activations with farmers’ groups: field demonstrations, site visits, installations, training on product use and business management.
Their website, video content, social media, and physical presence all help explain how to connect with them, how installations work, and what maintenance is needed.
They also partner with organizations like AFPA (Agricultural and Food Producers Association) to assist with silage making and broader agribusiness demonstrations. This gives them broader reach and shared credibility.
Tackling Climate and Cost Challenges
Kenya’s climate is changing: droughts, unpredictable rainfall, heat stress. For many farmers, production cost is skyrocketing: expensive inputs, erratic water supply, pests and post-harvest loss.
Grekkon responds with climate-smart agriculture:
- Encouraging water conservation: drip systems, mulching papers, dam liners.
- Inclusive pricing and affordable options: designing kits that small scale farmers can start with (kitchen garden kits, fractional acre drip kits).
- Speed and transparency: when clients order products, Grekkon strives to meet them in stipulated timeframes; if there are delays, they communicate. This builds trust.
- Quality control: advising clients on which system matches land , crop and water-source, so that installations are appropriate and sustainable.
Impact and Scale: From Nairobi to the Field
Grekkon Limited, with six branches across Nairobi, Eldoret, Kisumu, Nyeri, Mombasa, and Nyahururu, is serving thousands of farmers with practical climate-smart solutions. By introducing modern irrigation and drying technologies to semi-arid regions such as Kieni West and East, the company has helped farmers achieve higher yields, cut input costs, and reduce water wastage. The impact has been evident, better crop quality, more consistent harvests, and stronger margins that are transforming farming into a more resilient and profitable venture.
Challenges and Lessons
One challenge is supply chain delays: Grekkon addresses this challenge through clear communication and priority scheduling.
Educating customers is crucial: some farmers don’t know exactly what the kit involves and how to maintain it and hence Grekkon invests in training, video demos and follow-ups.
Climate variability: even with tech, if drought is severe or soil is degraded, the risk remains. Grekkon mitigates this challenge via mulching, rainwater harvesting, and recommending resilient crops.
Voices of the Field: What People Say
Mumbi describes their drive: seeing farmers struggle with high production costs and low reliability of water pushed them to innovate. Their products ( for instance drip kits and rain hose.) aim to reduce cost of production, conserve water and make farming manageable even in dry areas.
Their participation in forums like StunnerBiz Mashinani is seen as crucial: reaching young agripreneurs, inspiring adoption of new farming methods.
Looking Ahead: The Road to 2028
Grekkon’s goals are ambitious:
- Expand irrigation and climate-smart deployment in more counties, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas.
- Increase adoption of solar-powered systems and water harvesting to buffer dry spells.
- Embrace partnerships that unlock finance for farmers to access tech (e.g., linking with microfinance institutions or development grants).
- Promote youth agribusiness: more training, internships, demonstration farms, and peer learning.
As the story of Grekkon Limited unfolds, one thing becomes clear: this is a partner walking hand-in-hand with farmers on their journey toward sustainability and profitability. In a world where climate change is rewriting the rules of agriculture, Grekkon has chosen to stand at the frontline, equipping farmers with the tools, knowledge, and technologies they need to not just survive but thrive. Their presence in semi-arid regions, their innovations in water conservation, and their commitment to lowering the cost of production have redefined what modern farming can look like in Kenya. They have become a beacon of possibility for farmers who once viewed drought and low yields as unavoidable realities.
For Mumbi, the message to Grekkon’s clients is simple yet deeply powerful: “We appreciate you, and we will continue to provide only the highest quality products to help you grow.” Her words are not just gratitude but a promise, a commitment that every farmer who chooses Grekkon is not only purchasing a product, but entering into a relationship built on trust, resilience, and shared progress. She calls on farmers to not only use Grekkon’s solutions but to become ambassadors, spreading knowledge within their communities and uplifting others along the way. In her view, the journey of agribusiness is not one to be feared or delayed, it is a step to be taken now, boldly and with confidence, because with the right tools and partners, the future of farming is bright, profitable, and sustainable.
