Q&A: The ‘supamama’ who saw the potential in Kenya’s mother and baby industry

"I am sitting in a small coffee shop in Karen, an affluent suburb in Nairobi. I am meeting with Christine Khasinah-Odero, a Kenyan entrepreneur who has taken a somewhat unusual road towards business success. Instead of engaging in ICT, agriculture, real estate, or finance – which are viewed as Africa’s top sectors – she has found a profitable niche in Kenya’s widely overlooked mother and baby market."

Christine has created a company which focuses solely on mothers, reminding them they are special and creating events that nourish mothers both personally and professionally. An MBA graduate from the University of Liverpool (Marketing), Christine has created one of the truly innovative companies in Kenya.

Prior to Supamamas, Christine had a tours and travels company that unfortunately didn’t take off. She also worked at an auto mechanic company. She served many roles in her 2 ½ year tenure in the company, including the role of tea girl. It’s not every day you hear of an MBA holder doing such a job, but Christine did just that, learning the tools of the business trade there prior to founding her award-winning company.

Supamamas Founder and Managing Director  Christine Khasinah-Odero (left) was voted in the Business Daily Top 40 Under 40 Women of 2014 for her exemplary work in creating a platform that has Inspired, Informed and Connected mums with each other  as well as with several brand and companies. She is also passionate about community service and mentoring the next generation of women.

Interview with Kenya’s ‘SupaMama’ Entrepreneur

interview by Erin Swanson

Like many women all over the world, after becoming a new mother in Kenya, Christine Khasinah-Odero had a dilemma.

She wanted to to connect with other moms like her and find local businesses that were relevant to her new role in life, under one umbrella. But she could find no such thing.