Mathildah Amollo

Mathildah Amollo is an agripreneur and social impact leader with extensive experience in aquaculture and feed production. With a bachelor’s degree in commerce (accounting option) and 20 years in hospitality finance, I bring strong expertise in financial management, strategic planning, and business operations.
Mathildah Amollo grew up on the shores of Lake Vitoria, where fishing sustained our community. In 2016, during a visit home, I witnessed the heartbreaking reality of women trapped in sex-for-fish practices, a cycle of exploitation where access to food and income depended on vulnerability. Declining fish stocks and male-controlled distribution fueled this harmful behavior, leaving families in poverty and malnutrition. Seeing women forced into transactional sex to feed their children was devastating. I was motivated to act, and that moment became the seed of my business, building sustainable fish production to increase fish-supply, end exploitation and empower women with dignity.
Mathildah Amollo is the Founder and CEO of Greatlakes Feeds Ltd in Kenya, in a mission to make Aquaculture affordable, sustainable and accessible by producing affordable high-quality fingerlings and eco-friendly fish feeds that promote sustainable aquaculture while helping to combat food insecurity. With a strong background in business management, a commitment to environmental protection, and a passion for empowering women, I strive to eliminate sex-for-fish practices which has troubled the region for a long time by offering alternative livelihoods.
As founder of Greatlakes Feeds Ltd, I have pioneered locally fabricated fingerlings and feed machines which run purely on solar/thermal energy, innovated sustainable feed formulations, and hatchery-bred fingerlings thereby increasing yield by 40%, cutting fish production costs by 50%. My focus on agribusiness management, farmer training, and community empowerment has enabled over 2,400 women and youths to transition into fish-farming, creating new income streams and improving food security. I have built strategic partnerships with NGOs, government programs, and development agencies to scale impact across Kenya. From a five-person startup, I have grown the company into an organization with 63 permanent-employees, introducing modern aquaculture techniques that improve yields and reducing production costs and fish mortality rates.
My leadership emphasizes innovation and sustainability, driving the development of efficient, nutritious feed solutions that improve fish productivity and enhance food security in the region. I am dedicated to empowering women in the Lake Victoria basin by supporting their transition into fish farming, while addressing challenges such as overfishing, unemployment, malnutrition, HIV/STIs, and teenage pregnancy, all while contributing to economic growth.
Through collaboration with rural communities and women’s groups, I have fostered financial inclusion, enterprise growth, and improved livelihoods within the Lake regions of Kenya. From humble beginnings, I built Greatlakes Feeds from a small startup into a recognized producer of fingerlings and fish feeds. My role encompasses strategic leadership, defining the company’s vision and mission with a clear focus on sustainable aquaculture practices.
My company, Greatlakes Feeds Ltd encourages women to grow farm products which is purchased for raw materials for fish feed production, providing them with income sources, at the same time enabling the company to produce quality fish feeds at lower prices, promoting wider adoption of fish farming. The company is empowering women to engage in cage-fish production through innovative out-grower model that supplies essential inputs on credit, thereby reducing entry barriers so as to combat harmful practices like "sex-for-fish", balancing profitability with meaningful social impact, showing that businesses can be a force for good. My company demonstrates commitment to preserve the natural beauty and health of Lake Victoria and environment, while supporting sustainable fish farming practices, by using off-grid solar energy to power the hatchery machines, Feeds production machineries, security lighting, water pumping and manually rowed boats to eliminate water and environmental pollution.
I train farmers on modern aquaculture practices to improve yields and connect them to financiers, enabling growth beyond micro enterprise. I established the “Namdar Self Help Group” Sacco, offering loans for education, healthcare, and business ventures to rural-youth and women. I mobilized and trained members to join this initiative. In addition to creating jobs for community youths, I pay college-fees for untrained employees. and provide technical internships to colleges for practical experience
In the region where sustainable livelihoods and food security are critical, my company, Greatlakes feeds ltd is emerging as a beacon of hope.