Craft Silicon of Kenya Wins Legatum Africa Award

Craft Silicon of Nairobi, Kenya, has won the top prize of $100,000 at 2010 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship. The company was declared as the overall winner of the presitigious award, at a Gala Awards event, which held in Nairobi, December 6.

The company had emerged tops among keen contenders, which included, Mellech Engineering & Construction Ltd., Nairobi, Kenya; Planbuild Technical Services Ltd., Kampala, Uganda; Sigma Electric PLC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tutuka Software (Pty) Ltd., Rivonia, South Africa and Wilkins Engineering Ltd., Accra, Ghana.

The panel of judges, adjudged the company, which provides software solutions for core banking, microfinance, and electronic and mobile payments in four continents, as a company with a strong example of the vital role of entrepreneurship in creating economic growth, prosperity, and opportunity in Africa. Tokunbo Talabi, chairman of the panel of judges, and the CEO of Superflux International and a previous Grand Prize winner of the Legatum Africa Awardsdescribed the company, which is under the leadership of Kamal Budhabhatti, the chief executive officer, as embodying both "innovation and inspiration".

Ten finalists had on November 3 emerged as contenders for the $100,000 grand prize. Mellech Engineering & Construction Ltd., Nairobi, Kenya; Planbuild Technical Services Ltd., Kampala, Uganda; Sigma Electric PLC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tutuka Software (Pty) Ltd., Rivonia, South Africa and Wilkins Engineering Ltd., Accra, Ghana, who all got to the final round, got cash prizes of $50,000 each. The other finalists, were Biodeal Labs Ltd, Nairobi, Kenya; Malcom-Ezindaleni Hydraulics & Engineering, Middelburg, South Africa; NTR Technology Holdings (PTY) Ltd. Gaborone, Botswana; and Steel & Tube Industries Ltd, Kampa.

Judging panel chaired by Talabi, included, Dr. Manu Chandaria - Chariman Comcraft Ltd., Dr. James Mwangi - CEO, Equity Bank, Mr. Kibuga Kariithi - ex-CEO of Nairobi Stock Exchange, and Mr. Steve Beck - Co-Founder & CEO, Springhill Equity Partners LLC. 

The Legatum Africa Awards programme recognizes and rewards African business leaders who embody the entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrate the qualities required to succeed in business - determination, a commitment to excellence, innovation and profitability.

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