Denis Opudo
M-kula is a Kenyan based app that assists firms to issue out vouchers to their employees. The idea behind the app was influenced by the Kenya Finance Act 2014. The act exempts those food sold to employees valued up to Sh48, 000 annually from taxation. If changed into monthly valuation it will be worth Sh4, 000. The app allows users to make orders and pay for food the same way clients buy goods and services via M-Pesa mobile money platform run by Safaricom, a telecommunication company in Kenya.
Sodexo Kenya CEO, Neil Ribeiro said that the company decided to go for digital lunch vouchers since food is a vital component in the labor sector. This is despite the fact that it has never received the required attention. Food plays a pivotal role in improving productivity and employees’ motivation. Additionally, it acts as the company’s bedrock at any given time. He adds that a number of studies have proven that there is a wide gap between startups that give their staff lunch and those that do not do that.
M-Kula won the 2018 Hub Africa Innovative Company of the year award. This was among the seven awards that were up for grab at the Hub African awards. The event took place at Casablanca in Morocco on 3rd May 2018. M-Kula stood out among the rest because of its ability to use simple means to offer solutions to employers’ main corporate and social challenges. Hub Africa awards is an award that is used to recognize innovative entrepreneurs across Africa.
The award had more than 1,000 applicants from all over Africa out of which seven became the winners. Other categories were Social Impact of the Year Award, Grand Price Hub Africa, Woman Entrepreneur of the year award, and South-South Corporation of the Year Award. The app is currently available on Android and iOS platforms. Moreover, it is now used in more than 230 restaurants.
