In a significant shift for Kenya’s fast-growing social commerce startup Chpter, co-founders Tesh Mbaabu and Mesongo Sibuti have officially stepped away from day-to-day operations as of September 15, 2025. The announcement was made via an internal email circulated to Chpter’s team and investors, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s leadership journey.
The transition sees the reins handed back to original co-founder Mark Kiarie, who resumes his role as Chief Executive Officer. Kiarie, alongside Kuria Kevin, initially launched Chpter in 2021 with a vision to revolutionize conversational commerce in Africa. Mbaabu and Sibuti joined the company in early 2024, bringing with them deep industry experience and a track record of scaling startups, notably through their work at MarketForce.
In the email, Mbaabu reflected on the decision, stating:
Over time, it became clear to us that it was right for Mark to take back his role as CEO and chief visionary, steering Chpter with the clarity and conviction only a founder can bring.
Their departure marks the end of a transformative chapter for Chpter. Over the past year, Mbaabu and Sibuti spearheaded an aggressive growth strategy, leveraging their expertise to secure vital funding and forge strategic partnerships. Among their most notable achievements was a landmark collaboration with African fintech leader Flutterwave in June 2025, which enabled Chpter to expand its footprint to 14 African markets. During their tenure, the platform onboarded over 3,500 businesses, significantly boosting its presence across the continent.
In September 2024, Chpter successfully closed a $1.2 million pre-seed funding round, attracting investment from prominent firms such as Pani, Techstars, and Norrsken. Earlier in 2025, the company also launched Pluto, a dedicated WhatsApp API suite spun off as a subsidiary to deepen its focus on AI-powered transactions and enhance its product offering.
The leadership change comes after Mbaabu and Sibuti’s strategic pivot in April 2024, when their previous venture, MarketForce, shut down its B2B e-commerce unit RejaReja amid a challenging funding climate. Their move to Chpter was seen as a fresh start, and they quickly became instrumental in shaping the company’s growth trajectory.
In their farewell note, the duo described the decision to step down as “difficult but very personal,” emphasizing their trust in Kiarie’s leadership:
We have complete confidence in Mark’s ability to steer Chpter forward as its chief visionary.
Looking ahead, Mbaabu and Sibuti hinted at new entrepreneurial ambitions, stating:
As for us, we will soon be embarking on our next venture, inspired by the lessons, scars, and hope this journey has given us.
With Kiarie back at the helm, Chpter is consolidating leadership around its original founding team as it seeks to scale its AI-driven social commerce infrastructure across Africa. The transition raises important questions about the company’s ability to maintain momentum in a tough funding environment, where African startups are under increasing pressure to validate business models, secure capital, and demonstrate scalable impact.
