The Kenyan social change catalyst behind Spice Without Borders is building pathways for grassroots changemakers to discover their potential, develop their ideas and move from the margins to the mainstage.
For Erick Inghatt Matsanza, the question of who gets an opportunity to succeed is more than a social issue. It is connected to the experiences that shaped his journey and the people who helped him move forward when the path was uncertain.
A Kenyan social entrepreneur, mentor and systems thinker from Lugari, Kakamega County, Matsanza is the Founder and Chief Catalyst of Spice Without Borders (SWOB), an initiative developing grassroots changemakers through leadership, social innovation, creativity and community action.
From Personal Experience to Purpose
Matsanza’s commitment to grassroots empowerment is rooted in personal experience. He lost his father while still in primary school, and a head teacher helped him continue his education when support was uncertain. That experience became a lasting reminder of how much a future can depend on someone recognizing potential and choosing to support it.
His journey through civic engagement, street protests, branding and communication shaped a philosophy that now underpins his work: people should not have to wait for established institutions to recognize their worth before they begin creating change.
From Technology to Social Innovation
Before focusing on grassroots leadership, Matsanza built experience in technology, entrepreneurship and digital skills development. He directed Intelsoft Limited and served as a KYEOP Core Business Skills Trainer under the Ministry of ICT, supporting young people and entrepreneurs as they developed practical business skills.
These experiences showed him that access to tools alone is not enough. People also need confidence, knowledge, relationships and opportunities to turn ideas into meaningful action.
Building Spice Without Borders
Founded in Kenya in 2015, Spice Without Borders is built on the belief that meaningful change can emerge from any community, including those that receive limited attention from established institutions. It brings together activists, creatives, entrepreneurs, initiators and innovators.
Its philosophy is captured in the acronym SPICE:
Recognizing Different Changemakers
SWOB identifies five broad changemaker archetypes: Activists, Creatives, Entrepreneurs, Initiators and Innovators. These are not rigid categories. A young farmer can be an entrepreneur and innovator; a filmmaker can be a creative and activist; and a community organizer can be an initiator who develops entrepreneurial solutions.
This wider view challenges the assumption that leadership belongs only to people with formal titles, large institutions or established platforms. Sometimes change begins with a community member who identifies a problem, brings people together and takes the first practical step.
Creating Opportunities for Rural Youth
The Kilimo Accelerator is an entrepreneurship and life-skills initiative for teenagers aged 13 to 17 in western Kenya. It connects agriculture with entrepreneurship, climate resilience and sustainable development, encouraging young people to see farming as a field of innovation and economic possibility.
The broader message is powerful: young people should not have to abandon their communities to discover their potential. With guidance, skills and opportunity, they can develop solutions where they live.
From the Margins to the Mainstage
In 2024, Matsanza founded Spicy Awards to celebrate grassroots changemakers whose contributions may receive limited public attention. Recognition can introduce them to new audiences, collaborators and wider networks, making visibility a starting point for further opportunity rather than an endpoint.
Mentorship, Collaboration and Global Connections
In 2025, Matsanza joined Catalyst Now’s InterGen Bridge Initiative as a mentor supporting young African social entrepreneurs. He was also selected for the Cinema Across Borders 2025/26 Fellows Cohort, connecting community-focused work with film, storytelling and grassroots action.
His recognition includes the 2023 KEMEN Non-Profit Leader of the Year Award, while Spice Without Borders received Gold in the Community-Based Organization category at the 2023 Digitally Fit Awards.
Building an Ecosystem, Not Just Programmes
What distinguishes Matsanza’s approach is the effort to connect the full changemaker journey: discovering purpose, developing capability, testing ideas, building relationships, communicating through creativity and gaining recognition.
Through Spice Without Borders and its initiatives, he is working towards an ecosystem where these stages reinforce one another and where grassroots communities are recognized as sources of knowledge, creativity, leadership and solutions.
Why Erick Inghatt Matsanza’s Story Matters
From his early experiences in Lugari to his work in technology, mentorship and grassroots leadership, the thread connecting Matsanza’s activities is the conviction that potential should not be determined by privilege or established influence.
At Sisi Kenya, we celebrate individuals whose journeys demonstrate how personal conviction can develop into initiatives that serve others. Matsanza’s mission is to help build the pathways that allow overlooked talent to reach its potential.
Because sometimes, the most important work begins by ensuring that the people at the margins are finally given a chance to reach the mainstage.
