Truphena Choti: Kenyan woman receives Ksh103M funding to grow misheveve, other veggies in US

USA-based Kenyan entrepreneur Dr Truphena Choti is celebrating a major milestone after her company received $800,000 (about Ksh103 million) in federal funding to expand its food and community work in Maryland, United States.

The funding was secured through the efforts of US Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and will support renovations at the company’s facility in Essex, Maryland.

The investment will also strengthen the organisation’s capacity to distribute healthy, culturally meaningful food and advance food security and health equity among immigrant and underserved communities across Maryland.

During the event marking the funding, Senator Chris Van Hollen visited the company’s Community Food Centre, where he toured the facility and met members of the community.

Choti, who is the company’s founder, said the facility would serve a purpose that extended beyond the physical improvements supported by the funding.

“This building will be a place where food restores health, where partnerships create opportunity, and where every person who walks through the door is welcome with dignity and respect,” Choti said.

She further described the federal funding as an investment in the wellbeing of the people the organisation serves, rather than simply money for renovations.

“The funding is more than just bricks and mortar; it’s an investment in healthier families, stronger neighbourhoods, and a more equitable food system,” she said.

AfriThrive also acknowledged the federal investment, saying it would help expand the organisation’s capacity to serve immigrant and underserved communities across Maryland.

“This investment will support renovations to our Essex facility, strengthening our ability to distribute healthy, culturally meaningful food and advance food security and health equity for the communities we serve,” AfriThrive wrote.

The organisation also expressed gratitude to Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks for their support.

“We are grateful to Senators Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks for their support of AfriThrive’s mission, and we thank everyone who joined us to mark this important milestone,” the organisation said.

Message of gratitude

The development also attracted attention online, prompting Choti to share her reaction after the story of the funding gained traction.

In her message, Choti expressed gratitude to those who had highlighted her company’s work and described the development as an important milestone for the organisation.

“Grateful for featuring my story and highlighting AfriThrive’s journey and this important milestone,” she wrote.

Choti also thanked Dr Monda for taking time to understand the organisation’s work and tell its story.

“A special thank you to Dr Monda for taking the time to understand our work, and tell our story so thoughtfully,” she wrote.

She then shifted the focus from herself to the people involved in the organisation’s work, crediting its wider team and supporters for the progress.

“This recognition belongs to the incredible AfriThrive team, Board, partners, volunteers, supporters, and communities who make this work possible every day,” Choti wrote.

She expressed optimism about what the new funding could mean for the organisation going forward.

“We are grateful and excited for what lies ahead!” she wrote.