What Elimu Holdings does

Elimu Holdings Limited is a Kenyan education technology company founded in 2008 that builds and hosts official websites, digital communication systems, and curriculum content libraries for schools across East Africa. Its core product is a school website platform using country-code top-level domains (for example, schoolname.sc.ke) bundled with verified school email addresses, the EREFOS report-form distribution service, bulk SMS for parent communication, and the Elimu Library of curriculum-aligned content covering both Kenya's legacy 8-4-4 system and the Competency-Based Curriculum. The Elimu Library aggregates schemes of work, lesson plans, exams, class notes, assessment rubrics, and syllabus documents, distributed both as embedded resources on school websites and through a standalone library portal.

The company's commercial proposition is the Taking Schools Online (TSO) program, through which it has helped approximately 1,200 schools in Kenya establish official websites. Revenue is generated through one-time website setup packages priced between KES 15,000 and KES 100,000, usage-based bulk SMS at KES 1.00-2.00 per message, recurring digital marketing subscriptions priced KES 6,000-35,000 per month, school management systems subscriptions, and advertising across the school website network. Go-to-market is sales-led, combining ministry and education-organisation partnerships, direct sales outreach, and a self-serve online ordering system, with youth workforce support from Ajira Digital and Riara University students. The company is registered in Kenya, headquartered at 7th Floor, The Address, Muthangari Drive, Westlands, Nairobi, and has publicly stated plans to expand to 40,000 schools in Kenya and 100,000 schools across seven African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, DRC). It is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds and is led by CEO Davis Waithaka.

Name

Elimu Holdings

Legal name

Elimu Holdings Limited

Website

https://elimuholdings.co.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Elimu Holdings is a Kenyan EdTech company that builds official websites, SMS communication systems, and curriculum content libraries for schools across East Africa under its Taking Schools Online program, serving 1,200 schools in Kenya with expansion plans across seven African countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kenyase

HQ country

Ghana

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. School Website Development: One-time website development and setup fees for schools with various package tiers (KES 15,000 to KES 100,000), including official email addresses and SMS credits
2. Bulk SMS Services: SMS credit sales for parental communication with volume-based pricing (KES 1.00 to KES 2.00 per unit depending on quantity)
3. Digital Marketing Services: Monthly marketing services including social media management (KES 6,000-20,000) and Google search marketing (KES 35,000)
4. Advertising Network: Digital advertising and branding opportunities across the Elimu school website network reaching parents, students and teachers
5. School Management Systems: Academic and financial management systems for schools

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Elimu Holdings develops, hosts, and maintains official websites and integrated digital services for schools across East Africa under its Taking Schools Online program. Its core deliverables are country-code top-level domain school websites (e.g., schoolname.sc.ke), official email addresses, parental bulk SMS communication, the EREFOS report form distribution system, and the Elimu Library of curriculum-aligned teaching and learning resources for 8-4-4 and CBC systems.

Product overview

Elimu Holdings operates a unified platform for school digitization in East Africa, centered on the Taking Schools Online Program. The core product is Elimu School Websites, which provides official website development with Country-Code Top-Level domains, official email addresses, and integrated management systems. Supporting the platform are EREFOS (report form distribution via websites and SMS), Elimu Library (educational content resources including 8.4.4 and CBC materials), Bulk SMS services, Digital Marketing Services, and Academic/Financial Management Systems. The ecosystem is self-sustaining through digital branding spaces, research sponsorships, integrated education products, and carbon credits trading.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EREFOS: A school website feature that provides report forms to parents, allowing schools to link all report forms to the school website for easy access and distribution.
• Elimu Library
• Taking Schools Online (TSO)

Products and services

• Elimu School Websites Official website development and hosting for schools, providing Country-Code Top-Level domain websites (e.g., schoolname.sc.ke), official verified email addresses, and website management tools. Sold as tiered one-time packages (KES 15,000 to KES 100,000) that bundle websites with SMS credits.
• EREFOS Report form distribution service that links academic report forms to school websites and sends them to parents via SMS for easy access and distribution. Targeted at schools wanting to digitize report card delivery to parents.
• Elimu Library Digital resource platform offering 8-4-4 and CBC curriculum materials including schemes of work, lesson plans, exam papers, class notes, assessment rubrics, and syllabus documents for teachers and students in Kenyan schools.
• Bulk SMS Services Bulk SMS service for schools and institutions to communicate with stakeholders, providing parental communication, real-time notifications, and attendance tracking. Volume-priced at KES 1.00 to KES 2.00 per SMS credit depending on quantity (500 to 20,000 credits).
• Digital Marketing Services Social media and search engine marketing services for schools including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram management, boosted posts, promoted tweets, and Google Search Marketing (SEO/SEM). Priced at KES 6,000 to KES 35,000 per month.
• Academic and Financial Management Systems Management systems for schools providing academic and financial administration capabilities integrated with school websites. Sold on a subscription basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,200 schools already have official websites in Kenya
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eveminet Communication Solutions LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2024Partnership signed on October 7, 2024 at Riara University to integrate online safety and digital well-being modules into Elimu Holding's school websites. Eveminet, an ICT consultancy focused on online safety and child protection, will provide expertise in creating safe online spaces for learners. The collaboration also involves the #SaferTogether online safety program in partnership with TikTok.
• Riara UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2024Riara University acts as a facilitating partner in the tri-party MoU with Elimu Holdings and Eveminet. The university has been a proactive supporter of technology utilization in education and online safety. In collaboration with Elimu Holdings, the university has facilitated website creation for 10 schools within its community. Eveminet's CEO serves as a faculty member in the Faculty of Education.
• Ajira DigitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerElimu Holdings works with Ajira Digital along with Riara University students to create official websites for public schools in Kenya through the Taking Schools Online program. Ajira Digital provides digital work opportunities for youth.
• TikTokminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTikTok partners with Eveminet and Riara University on the #SaferTogether online safety and digital wellbeing program currently being executed across Kenya. Elimu Holdings is involved through its partnership with Eveminet.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Varkey Foundation: Global education foundation actively building and operating schools across Africa and partnering with governments on teacher training and edtech. Comparable as a broader African education actor with ministry relationships overlapping Elimu's channel.
• Safaricom (Digifarm / Edu bundle): Kenya's dominant mobile operator offering bulk SMS, connectivity, and digital education bundles to schools. Comparable as a much larger incumbent that could commoditize Elimu's SMS and connectivity components if it chooses to bundle school digitization services.

Direct peers

• Ubongo: Tanzania-headquartered African educational media company producing localized animated learning content distributed via TV, radio, and digital channels to schools. Comparable as a content/infrastructure provider for African primary education.
• Fedena: School management/ERP software used by K-12 schools across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Directly comparable as a school administration platform integrating academics, finance, and parent communication.
• Eneza Education: Pan-African (founded in Kenya) SMS and mobile platform delivering educational content and teacher/parent tools to schools. Directly comparable in geography, school-focused GTM, and SMS-based parent communication stack.
• M-Shule: Kenyan mobile/SMS-based learning platform targeting primary schools and parents in low-connectivity environments. Directly comparable to Elimu's East African school digitization model, with overlapping customer base and SMS-driven communication approach.

Regional players

• uLesson: Nigerian K-12 video learning platform serving students across West and East Africa. Comparable as an African EdTech tackling school-age learning with digital content, though focused on consumer subscription rather than school digitization.

Others

• Andela (in education partnerships): African technology talent and training company that operates learning programs adjacent to schools. Comparable as an ecosystem participant addressing digital skills and school-to-work pathways in Africa, though focused on workforce rather than K-12 digitization.

Emerging players

• Kukua: Africa-focused children's educational content and media company (originated in Kenya with a Wakanda-based animation franchise). Comparable as an African K-6 educational content provider pursuing pan-African scale.
• PrepClass: Nigerian EdTech offering tutoring and learning resources for K-12 students. Comparable as a venture-backed African K-12 EdTech, though focused on consumer tutoring rather than school-level digitization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/elimuholdings

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Elimu Holdings