Another international recognition, another milestone and another celebration of African excellence.

Every journey begins with an idea. Sometimes, that idea starts with a simple question: Can we do this better? For us at Kwenda, that question has been at the heart of our journey from the very beginning.

Today, we are proud to celebrate another important milestone — the recognition of our Founder and CEO, Lumbani Gondwe, among Africa’s 100 Most Influential Persons of 2026.

Just like the case with many other awards we have received, for us, this huge recognition is more than an award. It is a moment for us to reflect on how far we have come as an early-stage startup, the people who have been part of our journey, and the vision that continues to drive us forward - building Africa’s first Digital Travel Infrastructure. Yes, we are building that vision.

It started with a vision to make travel and experiences simpler by building Africa’s first resilient Digital Travel Infrastructure, out of Malawi to the rest of Africa. Kwenda was born from a desire to solve a billion-dollar real problem, Africa lacking a unified digital travel infrastructure, costing the continent billions of dollars due to fragmentation of travel and transport systems.

In 2018, our Founder and CEO identified challenges within Malawi’s travel, transportation and hospitality industries and saw an opportunity to use technology to solve the challenges and make experiences better. That idea became the foundation of Kwenda, a successful impactful startup story to ever come out of Malawi and sprouting to the rest of Africa.

What began as an idea has continued to grow into a technology company building digital infrastructure for travel and transport, connecting businesses with customers and making it easier for people to access travel-related services.

Our mission has remained simple: Simplifying travel through technology.

But as we have grown, we have realized that simplifying travel is about more than bookings. It is about creating connections.

It is about helping businesses reach more customers. It is about making experiences more accessible at a fingertip via technology. And ultimately, it is about using technology to create opportunities and drive Africa’s economic growth.

From a Malawian idea to a bigger African vision. Kwenda was built in Malawi, for the realities we understand, but we have always believed that African problems can inspire African solutions with the potential to reach far beyond one market.

Today, we are working across different areas of travel, transport, events and digital commerce, continuously looking for ways to make everyday experiences simpler and more convenient.

Our journey has also brought recognition within Malawi’s technology ecosystem, including Malawi’s Innovation and Technology Solution of the Year 2025, Malawi’s E-commerce Platform of the Year 2026, and Malawi’s Most Scalable Solution 2026.

But while awards are wonderful moments to celebrate, they are not the reason we build. We build because there are problems worth solving across Africa and this recognition energizes us more on this journey.

We build because Africa deserves modern and efficient travel infrastructures and systems for its economic growth and development. And we build because we believe technology can help move Africa forward.

A word from our Founder and CEO

For our Founder and CEO, this recognition is both a personal milestone and a reflection of the journey Kwenda has taken.

Speaking about the recognition, he shared:

"To be named among the Africa 100 Most Influential People is both humbling and deeply inspiring. This is one of Africa’s top and prestigious awards. This recognition is not just about me, but about the journey of Kwenda and its impact on digital transformation in Malawi and across Africa.

It affirms that even as a young startup, our mission of building Africa’s first digital travel infrastructure resonates with the continent’s broader vision for socio-economic growth and building resilient digital infrastructures.

I feel honored to be named alongside leaders who are shaping Africa’s future, such as the immediate past African Development Bank Group President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. I see this as motivation to keep pushing boundaries, using technology for good, and contributing to Malawi’s Digital Economy Strategy and Vision 2063 and Africa’s Digital Transformation Agenda.

Awards are milestones, but the real fulfilment comes from the impact we create for people, communities, and Africa’s development. This is a win for Malawi and a win for Africa.”

His words capture what this moment means to us as a startup company.

The recognition is personal, but the journey behind it is collective.

Why this recognition means something to us;

The 100 Africa Most Influential Persons Awards recognize individuals across the continent based on their professional accomplishments, positions and influence within different areas of African society and economic life.

To see our Founder and CEO recognized on a continental platform is therefore a proud moment for the entire Kwenda and Malawi. Behind every milestone are late nights, difficult decisions, lessons, setbacks, small wins and the courage to keep going. This recognition reminds us that the journey matters just as much as the destination.

For us, this moment represents the possibilities that exist when African entrepreneurs choose to build solutions for the challenges around them. It reminds us that a problem identified in Malawi can become the starting point for something much bigger in solving a continent’s problem. There is still more to build. More people to connect. More experiences to simplify. More businesses to empower. And more possibilities to explore. But for now, we take the time to celebrate and congratulate our Founder and CEO, the engine room of who we are, the inspiring leadership.

We celebrate the vision that started Kwenda. We celebrate the courage to keep building and innovating.

This is another milestone. Another reason to celebrate African excellence. And another reminder that the journey is far from over.

Kwenda keeps moving! 💙

For media inquiries:

Edith Chihera

Head of Marketing and Communications | Kwenda

echihera@kwenda.co

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Our Founder and CEO Recognized Among Africa’s 100 Most Influential Persons of 2026!