Karakuta Fresh Produce Ltd, a leading Kenyan exporter of avocados and fresh organic herbs, has announced its intention to list by introduction on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). The proposed transaction remains subject to formal regulatory approvals from both the NSE and the Capital Markets Authority (CMA).
Founded in 2018 in Juja, Kiambu County, Karakuta has built a robust regional supply chain, sourcing Hass and Fuerte avocados from over 3,000 smallholder farmers across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Beyond fruits, the firm exports a diverse array of fresh organic herbs, including basil, oregano, thyme, tarragon, mint, rosemary, sage, coriander, lovage, and chives.
Grace Ngungi, Founder and CEO of Karakuta Fresh Produce, highlighted that going public offers a unique entry point for public market investors and local agricultural communities alike:
“Karakuta has spent eight years building what most companies in this sector only aspire to: a state-of-the-art packhouse with one of Kenya’s few high-precision grading lines, and established export channels into Europe, the Gulf, Asia, and most recently, China. Listing on the NSE gives us the governance and transparency that public markets demand, while positioning us to draw on deeper capital as we scale production. We believe this listing allows investors to participate in a vertically integrated, export-ready agribusiness at the very start of its public market journey.”
Karakuta operates a modern Nairobi-based packhouse with a handling capacity of 250 containers. Featuring high-precision grading and packing equipment, it is one of only 52 operational facilities of its kind in Kenya.
The firm’s commercial operations currently supply buyers across the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and India, with aggressive growth now targeting the Chinese market to meet rising global demand for African avocados.
To date, Karakuta’s value chain has created 1,163 jobs across its farm sourcing networks, processing operations, and logistics divisions, an employment footprint the company expects to expand following its public launch.
The listing process is being managed by a specialized consortium of advisory partners:
- Lead Transaction Advisor: Synesis Capital
- Legal Advisors: MWC Legal
- Reporting Accountants: Baker Tilly
- Public Relations: 8 Ball Media
Makopa Mwasaria, Director of Advisory Services at Synesis Capital, noted that the listing will significantly boost Karakuta’s market profile while offering shareholders a clear mechanism for liquidity and long-term capital allocation.