Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya’s commitment to food fortification received a major boost this week as industry leaders, policymakers, and development partners gathered in Nairobi for the 2nd Annual Kenya Food Processing and Nutrition Leadership Forum and the 2025 Kenya Millers Fortification Index (KMFI) Awards.
The high-level forum, hosted by the Cereal Millers Association and TechnoServe through the Millers for Nutrition initiative, brought together stakeholders from the public and private sectors to celebrate fortification champions, reinforce industry commitment, and strengthen public-private partnerships.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, H.E. Musalia Mudavadi, presided over the event, urging millers to scale up their efforts in fortifying staple foods as part of Kenya’s broader food and nutrition security agenda.
Launched in 2023, the Millers for Nutrition initiative supports and celebrates processors that enhance the nutritional quality of staples such as wheat flour, maize flour, edible oils, and rice. The initiative not only recognizes companies exceeding fortification standards but also inspires others to follow suit — building momentum for a stronger culture of fortification across the industry.
“KMFI is a great collaboration that is industry-driven and works across the public, private, and social sectors,” said Kris Ansin, TechnoServe Kenya Country Director. “It is good for businesses, consumers, government, and society as a whole.”
The Kenya Millers Fortification Index (KMFI) serves as an industry self-regulation tool, enabling millers to assess their performance based on set quality benchmarks. The ranking combines self-assessment with independent laboratory testing, ensuring credibility and transparency.
Key areas assessed include people management, production systems, procurement, input management, governance, and public engagement. Currently, the KMFI features 26 millers and 113 brands across wheat flour, maize flour, and edible oils.
This year’s index recognized companies and brands that achieved excellence in fortification. Among the highlights were:
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Top Performing Brands Award – Celebrating the best fortified food brands across maize flour, wheat flour, and edible oils.
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Top 3 Overall Company Awards – Honoring the most outstanding companies in fortification leadership and product excellence.
Top Performing Brands Award
| Maize | Wheat | EO (A3 printed sizing 3 separate certificates) | |
| Large (9 Cert) | 1. Unga Limited (BROWN AWARD)
● Hodari Maize Meal 2. Kitui Flour Mills Ltd ● Jahazi Premium Maize 3. Pembe Flour Mills Ltd ● Pembe Maize Meal: |
1: Unga Limited (BROWN
AWARD)
Ltd-Runyenjes Ndovu All Purpose: |
1.Bidco Africa Limited
(BROWN AWARD)
Oil
Oil
Rinsun |
Miller Personality of the Year
| ● Peninah King’ori – Mombasa Maize Millers Ltd MAIZE AWARD) | Narration; Ms. Peninah has consistently maximized the technical assistance offered through the Millers for Nutrition (M4N) platform, with a strong focus on product and premix testing. She has also played a pivotal role as the focal point for engaging sister companies in Millers for Nutrition initiatives, including market linkages, in-house technical support, KMFI engagements, and other collaborative activities |
| ● Osman Adan – Pembe Flour Mills Ltd (MAIZE
AWARD)
|
Narration: Mr. Osman has actively engaged the TechnoServe team to leverage the resources available through the Millers for Nutrition (M4N) platform, including in-house training for his staff. Following the 2024 KMFI awards, he initiated a root cause analysis on the unexpected low performance, an effort that is now reflected in the team’s improved results |
| Abduswamad Omar – Kitui Flour Mills |
| ● | Melvin Fernandes- Consultant, CMA | |||
| ● | Paloma Fernandes, Cereal Millers Association, CEO | |||
| MAIZE AWARD | ) | |||
| ● | Beju Shah- Vice Chairman CMA | |||
| ● | Kamaldeep Singh Phull – Chairman CMA | |||
| ● | Dr. Bimal Kantaria, Agriculture Sector Network
(ASNET) & Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Chairperson, ASNET & Director, KEPSA MAIZE |
|||
| AWARD | ) | |||
For the second consecutive year, Unga Limited emerged as the overall KMFI champion, reaffirming its industry leadership in fortifying flour products with essential nutrients.
| Top 3 Overall Company Awards (9 awards) | ||
| Narration: And now, the most prestigious award of the year. This honor celebrates the top overall companies in each fortified product category — Maize Flour, Wheat Flour, and Edible Oil. These organizations have set themselves apart through their unwavering commitment to fortification, serving as an inspiration to the entire industry. | ||
| Maize | Wheat | EO |
| 1. Unga Limited (COIL AWARD)
2. Pembe Flour Mills Ltd (RUE AWARD) 3. Kitui Flour Mills Ltd (BOIYON AWARD) |
1. Unga Limited (COIL Award)
2. United Millers Limited (RUE 3. Spice World Ltd BOIYON AWARD)
|
1. Bidco Africa Limited (COIL Award)
2. Vipingo Industries Limited (RUE 3. Kapa Oil Refineries Ltd BOIYON AWARD)
|
“Being named the 2025 KMFI winner is a proud moment for us,” said James Nyutu, Managing Director, Unga Group Limited. “If we can ensure that every Kenyan gets the nutrients they need — through flour or cooking oil — we are not only feeding them, but fortifying their future.”
The 2025 cycle saw participation from 22 flour milling companies and 4 edible oil companies, producing 113 fortified brands. Collectively, these companies represent significant market coverage — 67% for wheat flour, 55% for maize flour, and 48% for edible oils.
Notably, 77 brands from 18 companies scored above 80% on the index, signaling growing compliance and commitment across the sector.
The Millers for Nutrition initiative continues to align with national nutrition priorities, working with the Ministry of Health to improve premix quality standards and supplier regulation, and partnering with the Kenya Bureau of Standards to strengthen laboratory testing.
By recognizing excellence, rewarding commitment, and reinforcing partnerships, the KMFI Awards are driving a transformative agenda that positions fortified food as a cornerstone of Kenya’s fight against malnutrition.
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