STIHL EAST AFRICA: Empowering African Horticulture Scene with Innovative and Sustainable Products

STIHL East Africa is transforming agriculture and horticulture across the continent with high-quality, innovative products designed specifically for the African market. With nearly 100 years of global experience and a strong presence in East Africa since 1996, STIHL leads the way in providing practical solutions that meet the evolving needs of farmers and professionals.

The company’s product portfolio is tailored to enhance productivity, sustainability, and environmental stewardship across Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and beyond.

Products Tailored for Africa

From petrol-driven power products to the latest battery-powered innovations, STIHL offers a comprehensive range of products for agriculture, forestry, landscaping, construction, and gardening.

These include agricultural tillers, water pumps, sprayers, input mist blowers, and more—each designed to improve the daily lives of Africa’s small-scale farmers by increasing efficiency and reducing manual labour. Recognizing Africa’s unique challenges, STIHL has adapted its products to suit local needs. For instance, petrol products are equipped with 2-MIX engines, designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, ensuring compliance with global environmental standards.

 STIHL has also introduced the 230 product series, also dubbed ‘the farmer series’ as it consists of a powerful engine specifically designed for agricultural lands, with interchangeable spare parts compatible with the products in this series.

Leading the Way with Sustainable Innovation

 In line with global trends towards sustainability, STIHL is introducing its battery-powered products to the African market. Launching in October, these products will offer a cleaner, quieter alternative to traditional power sources without sacrificing performance.

STIHL’s lithium-ion batteries, designed for a range of interchangeable products, are lightweight and durable, with a lifespan of up to six years.

This technology not only reduces emissions but also offers quieter operation, making it ideal for use in residential areas and during sensitive tasks such as conference center maintenance. “Battery technology is the future of sustainable power products,” says Lucia Ayanda, Product Manager at STIHL East Africa.

“The company is proud to offer customers a range of high-quality, sustainable options while ensuring continued access to the petrol-driven products that are well-known and trusted.”

STIHL’s battery products have already generated excitement, following successful field trials and positive feedback from farmers and other users across East Africa. Customers appreciate the flexibility and convenience these products offer, providing a cleaner alternative without compromising the performance STIHL is known for.

Meeting Local Needs, Growing with Africa

 STIHL East Africa’s mission is to empower local communities by providing the products needed to succeed. One standout initiative is the Indigenous tree seedball project, which encourages tree planting by distributing seed balls to customers.

These seed balls can be easily planted by simply tossing them, promoting reforestation in an effortless yet impactful way. STIHL also offers a wide range of products specifically suited for the horticultural sector, providing practical solutions for everyday tasks.

 These products are built to cater to the specific needs of the African horticultural industry, making daily farming tasks more efficient and manageable: Pole pruners: Ideal for pruning tall trees such as mango and avocado trees, providing safe and efficiet trimming. Water pumps: Essential for efficient water management across large areas, ensuring crops get the water they need.

Technology to a significant increase in referrals from satisfied clients.” Sprayers: Perfect for distributing liquid inputs and fertilisers evenly across fields, promoting healthy crop growth. Blowers: Used for keeping work areas clean, enhancing the efficiency and organisation of daily operations. Mist blowers: Excellent for spreading liquids, granules, and seeds, making it easier to cover large areas effectively. Cultivators: Ideal for weeding and furrowing in narrow fields, allowing for precision soil preparation and management. Earth augers: Essential for drilling holes in the ground, making the planting of seedlings or trees faster and more efficient. STIHL’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond its products.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, the company provides environmentally responsible giveaways, such as plantable notebooks, pens, and pencils. These giveaways, embedded with seeds, allow users to plant them once they are finished.

 In addition, STIHL has partnered with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) on a tree-planting programme along major highways, including a project near Thika. Using STIHL’s earth augers and cultivators, the team was able to dig holes more efficiently, enabling faster and more widespread planting efforts. These projects are aimed at preserving and restoring ecosystems across East Africa.

A Fully Fledged Subsidiary in East Africa

STIHL’s East Africa operations were officially upgraded to a fully-fledged sales subsidiary in August 2022, following increased demand for its products across the region. The subsidiary, strategically located at the Red Commercial Complex along Mombasa Road in Nairobi, serves as a hub for local, national, and regional dealers.

This strategic move has improved access to STIHL products and services throughout the East Africa region. It has also enhanced after-sales service and product maintenance support, ensuring that clients have the expertise they need to keep their products performing at their best.

“The dealer presence across the region ensures quick response to any maintenance issues or customer inquiries,” says Kimani Muiruri, Sales Relationship Manager at STIHL East Africa. “This level of support has strengthened customer trust and led As STIHL continues to expand its footprint across East Africa, the company remains committed to providing high-quality products specifically tailored for the African market.

A Future of Possibilities

 As the company prepares to launch its battery products in October, STIHL East Africa is well-positioned to lead the region’s transition to more sustainable farming and horticulture practices.

By offering products that balance innovation, environmental responsibility, and quality, STIHL is helping farmers across Africa work more efficiently and sustainably.

 “The products are made for Africa, and this is an exciting time for STIHL East Africa,” says Pauline Ngigi, Marketing Coordinator at STIHL East Africa. “The company is adopting the latest technology while staying true to the core values that have defined STIHL for nearly a century—reliability, quality, and a deep commitment to its customers.”

STIHL East Africa is proud to be a part of Africa’s growth story and looks forward to continuing to innovate, evolve, and support the communities it serves