Lynda Njeru: SINAPIS One-Million-Shilling-Winner and CEO of Yz-me International

I had the privilege of attending the 2018 SINAPIS Business Plan Competition on Saturday where nine competitors went head on to pitch for their businesses to win a million shillings in order to boost their business.

The theme of the event was celebrating a Kingdom movement which meant having an entrepreneurship that positively impacted on the environment and society at large. Radio personality Johnstone Mwakazi was the MCee which clearly shows how serious Sinapis must have been in pioneering a kingdom movement.

The climax of the event came when we all gathered back in the auditorium anxiously awaiting the judges to pronounce the Mwakazi read out her name.

The ideas presented were amazing and since it was a competition, one person had to be crowned the winner and who better than the young entrepreneur and CEO of YZ-Me International, Lynda Mwende Njeru.

I later caught up with Lynda for an interview and to my surprise; the young lady we saw on the podium is actually a mother of two with the firstborn being nine years of age.

Who is Lynda Mwende Njeru? 

“Lynda is a mother of two and a wife for the last 11 years, I work for a travel management company and I’m also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of YZ-me International which is a business enterprise in the retailing industry,” Lynda tells of her many hats.

“I am a first born in a family of four; my parents always insisted on us that excellence was key and that has become my motto,” adds the founder of YZ-me, a company that has been hailed for delivering feminine hygiene and dignity to women during their menstruation.

What is YZ-Me International?

Yz-me international is a young company that is bringing hygienic menstruation to Kenya’s public space.

It deals with the importation of sanitary towel dispensers which will be strategically placed in malls, airports amongst other public facilities. Sanitary towels are sold is packs of at least seven and are not found in washrooms in public places despite being an important item that is at times required on urgency.

Yz-me brings the solution to that problem and the privacy even woman yearns for during those emergencies, a sanitary towel dispenser that will retail a pad for 25 shillings, offer a wet wipe and even tampons.

“The core purpose of Yz-me is to satisfy an immediate need for women who ran out of hygienic menstruation products at any time of the day, we stand with ladies during their emergency menstruation,” Lynda expounds.

How Did YZ-Me come to be?

“I was on a flight with my husband and two children when nature decided to send me my monthly subscription,” Lynda says referring to menstruation or simply monthly periods.

“I only had one pad and most women understand how heavy the flow can get on the first day, it was the last thing one could ask for during a flight but I dared ask knowing well my predicament,” Lynda says adding that the attendants politely told her they did not sell or stock pads or tampons.

“On transit, there were perfumes, condoms, drinks but not any kits to ensure menstruation hygiene, I was deeply disturbed but noticed that if all these items were easily dispensed, why is it that hygienic menstruation kits couldn’t be dispensed,” Lynda says of what inspired YZ-me.

YZ, according to Lynda, is shortened for Wisey from the word wise as the first friend Lynda spoke to about her idea said it was wise of her. Unfortunately for Lynda, she could not register the wisey as according to the registration’s department; the name had already been taken hence Yz-Me.

What Advice would you Kenyans who wish to go into  Entrepreneurship?

“Yz-me will ensure feminine hygiene and bring dignity to women during their monthly emergency or the ‘oops’ moments,” says Linda adding, “Its a solution to a problem, there are so many problems in the society that each one of us could seek to solve and in return grow to become an entrepreneur,” Lynda concludes.