Nairobi, Kenya – Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, H.E. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, has called on millers to scale up food fortification efforts as Kenya intensifies its push towards food sufficiency and nutrition security.
Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday during the Kenya Millers Fortification Index (KMFI) 2025 Awards Ceremony, Mudavadi stressed that food security must be treated as an urgent national priority.
“Food security is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. Food sufficiency is not merely about putting a meal on the table—it is about family stability, national productivity, and socio-economic growth,” he said.
Mudavadi underscored the importance of fortification in combating hidden hunger, malnutrition, and stunted growth.
“Fortification is the vitamin in our ugali, the iron in our flour, and the promise of healthier children and stronger generations. It is no longer an option but an obligation,” he added.
The KMFI initiative, launched in 2022, has grown significantly—from five companies and 41 brands to 34 companies, 155 brands, and 122 active participants today. The 2025 edition marked a new milestone with the inclusion of the edible oils sector, signaling greater industry commitment to nutrition security.
Mudavadi praised KMFI for going beyond compliance to serve as a catalyst for continuous improvement, transparency, and equity within the industry.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary tied the milling sector’s role to broader agricultural reforms under President William Ruto’s administration. These include:
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Registration of 6.5 million farmers
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Distribution of 21 million bags of subsidized fertilizer
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Dismantling of entrenched cartels
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Expansion of agricultural export markets
He cited progress in the tea sector, where reforms have lifted farmer earnings from KSh 138 billion to KSh 250 billion, with projections of KSh 280 billion by 2027.
Mudavadi also highlighted the Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project as a flagship initiative, featuring a 450-million-litre reservoir, electrified irrigation systems, and modern canals that will transform arid land into productive food baskets.
The PCS emphasized the role of partnerships in advancing Kenya’s food security agenda, referencing collaborations with:
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The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on digital land governance and climate resilience
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Spain on advanced irrigation technologies
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The Tony Blair Institute on technology-driven efficiency
“We shall not beg for bread; we shall bake it, fortify it, and share it,” Mudavadi declared.
He further called for consistency and rigor in fortification processes to counter public health threats such as aflatoxin contamination.
Mudavadi emphasized equity across the milling industry, stressing that both small-scale and large-scale millers must be empowered to thrive.
“Fair competition breeds excellence. Every miller, whether in a village or a city, has a role in delivering safe, fortified, and nutritious food to our people. No effort is too small in the fight against hunger,” he said.
Congratulating award winners, Mudavadi described the accolades as more than framed certificates.
“They are symbols of the industry’s resolve to elevate standards and deliver a healthier nation,” he remarked.
The ceremony was attended by Kris Ansin (Country Director, TechnoServe Kenya), Samburu Wa-Shiko (Regional Representative, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Rizwan Yusufali (Program Director, Millers for Nutrition), James Nyutu (MD, UNGA Group Limited), and Bimal Kantaria (Chairperson, Agriculture Sector Network and KEPSA Director), alongside development partners and industry leaders.
About the KMFI Awards
Established in 2022, the Kenya Millers Fortification Index Awards serve as an innovation to monitor, evaluate, and encourage compliance with national fortification standards. Designed as a transparent and competitive platform, the awards promote accountability, innovation, and consumer confidence.
The 2025 edition’s expansion to include edible oils further broadens its reach and impact, reaffirming fortification as central to Kenya’s food and nutrition security strategy.
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