Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called on millers and food processors to scale up fortification as part of Kenya’s efforts to boost food security.
Speaking in Nairobi when he presided over the 2025 Kenya Millers Fortification Index (KMFI) Awards, Mudavadi described fortification as a quiet revolution that protects Kenyans from malnutrition, hidden hunger, and stunted growth.
“Fortification is the quiet revolution that turns staples into shields against malnutrition, hidden hunger, and stunted futures. It is the vitamin in our ugali, the iron in our flour, the promise of healthier children and stronger generations,” said Mudavadi.
He lauded the KMFI initiative as a homegrown innovation that has grown from a pilot with five companies in 2022 to a platform now featuring 34 companies, 155 brands, and 122 active participants.
The Prime CS linked the awards to the government’s broader food security agenda, highlighting reforms in agriculture including the registration of 6.5 million farmers, distribution of subsidised fertiliser, expansion of markets for farmers, and the Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project.
“Food sufficiency means more than full plates; it means stable families, thriving communities, and a country free to chase bolder dreams. When we secure our food, we unlock the energy to invest in education for our youth, innovation in our industries, and equity in our society,” he said.
Mudavadi further commended the self-regulation role of KMFI describing it as more than a compliance tool.
“What makes KMFI truly remarkable is not just its scale, but its soul. It is more than a compliance checklist, it is a catalyst for continuous improvement, transparency, and accountability. It levels the playing field for every processor, small-scale miller in the village or corporate giant in the city, ensuring that standards are enforced fairly and equally,” he said.
He stressed the importance of rigorous monitoring through consistent testing, verifying fortification levels, and controlling contaminants to assure consumers that what they serve their families is pure, potent, and protective.
This year’s KMFI Awards recognised companies that demonstrated excellence not just in compliance but in advancing fortification practices that align with Kenya’s national nutrition priorities.
The awards, organised by KMFI in collaboration with TechnoServe and the Cereal Millers Association through the Millers for Nutrition initiative, brought together private sector players, development partners, and policymakers to review industry progress.
TechnoServe Kenya Country Director Kris Ansin hailed the initiative as an industry-driven collaboration that benefits all stakeholders.
“It helps identify, promote, and celebrate food processors whose brands you can trust and who are prioritising fortification. It is good for businesses, consumers, government, and society as a whole,” he said.
The KMFI Awards form part of the Millers for Nutrition initiative, launched in 2023 to support and celebrate food processors that play a key role in improving the nutrition of Kenyan families.
