The Cereal Millers Association (CMA), in partnership with TechnoServe through the Millers for Nutrition initiative, has today held the third annual Kenya Millers Fortification Index (KMFI) Awards, recognising milling companies making progress in food fortification, quality assurance and manufacturing excellence.
Held at Aurora Bustani in Thika, under the theme: From Quality to Trust: Partnering for Innovation and Celebrating Industry Ownership in Nutrition the 2026 awards brought together government representatives, industry leaders, milling companies and development partners to celebrate innovation and industry efforts towards improving the nutritional quality, safety of staple foods and building consumer confidence in products reaching Kenyan households.
Beyond recognising industry performance, the KMFI provides a framework for encouraging millers to take greater ownership of food safety and nutrition through continuous assessment, product testing and improved production standards.
Speaking during the ceremony, CMA Chief Executive Officer Paloma Fernandes said the milling industry had a responsibility to ensure that consumers access safe and nutritious food, noting that this commitment should extend beyond meeting regulatory requirements.
“We don’t need to be mandated to produce safe food and nutritious food. It should be part of what we do. We must always keep doing the right things,” Fernandes said.
She noted that CMA represents more than 60 millers in Kenya and accounts for approximately 40 per cent of the country’s maize production, placing the association in a significant position to influence food safety and consumer confidence.
“As such, we have a huge responsibility to Kenyan consumers in terms of food safety and overall trust,” she added.
Fernandes also called for stronger accountability across the milling sector, emphasising the need for consistent product testing, compliance with fortification requirements and a level playing field for all industry players.
She further underscored the importance of reliable data in measuring performance and ensuring that companies are assessed against consistent standards.
CMA Board Chairman Beju Shah also highlighted the operational challenges facing the milling industry, including rising production costs, duplicative regulations, pending subsidy payments exceeding KSh3.2 billion and delays at the ports.
Despite these challenges, the association continues to advocate for improved manufacturing standards, food safety and greater industry investment in quality assurance.
Food fortification remains an important public health intervention in Kenya, where maize and wheat flour are consumed by millions of households. The process involves adding essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, vitamin A and B-complex vitamins, to staple foods to help address micronutrient deficiencies.
The KMFI, developed through collaboration between CMA and TechnoServe, uses industry benchmarking, self-assessments and independent verification to evaluate milling companies’ fortification performance and compliance with food safety standards.
TechnoServe’s role in the initiative is centred on strengthening millers’ technical capacity and encouraging continuous improvement through practical tools, training and shared industry knowledge.
Rizwan Yusufali, Global Programme Director for Millers for Nutrition at TechnoServe, also noted that the initiative provides millers with the resources needed to improve fortification practices and product quality.He added, KMFI acts as a self-regulatory platform on the basis of transparency and peer benchmarking.
“Through practical tools, expert training, and shared best practices, Millers for Nutrition empower millers to adopt and excel in food fortification,” Yusufali said.
The initiative also encourages investment in modern production technologies, accurate nutrient dosing systems, laboratory testing and stronger quality management processes.
For consumers, the benefits extend beyond the manufacturing process. Consistent fortification and effective quality control help ensure that everyday food products deliver the nutritional value expected while meeting established safety standards.
As the milling industry continues to evolve, the 2026 KMFI Awards reinforce the importance of collaboration between manufacturers, government, regulators and development partners in building a safer, more nutritious and trusted food supply chain for Kenya.
