CMA conference spotlights fortification, aflatoxin risks and last-mile retail in Kenya’s food system

KENYA – Industry leaders, millers and development partners gathered at the CMA Annual Technical Conference & Expo 2026, held at the Sarit Centre on April 14–15, to address mounting pressure on food safety systems, fortification compliance and last-mile distribution. 

The event, organised by the Cereals and Milling Association (CMA), brought together more than 60 member companies representing 95% of Kenya’s wheat milling capacity and about 40% of maize milling capacity. 

The conference, themed “Chagua Safe, Chagua Smart,” combined panel discussions, exhibitions, and industry roundtables to explore how the sector can deliver safe, nutritious food under tightening economic and regulatory conditions.

Opening the conference, CMA Board Secretary Suad Abubaker called for urgent, coordinated action across the value chain. 

“We have raised the bar on nutrition by moving from intention to proof through fortification, testing and measurable standards,” she said. 

She warned that risks such as aflatoxin contamination and supply chain disruptions continue to threaten both consumer safety and industry stability, adding that collaboration will be critical to safeguarding food systems.

Her remarks set the tone for a programme focused on balancing compliance with competitiveness.

The first panel, “Compliance under Pressure: how do we stay compliant in fortification and stay competitive?”, brought together voices from across the value chain, including representatives from Sanku, Bidco Africa, Pembe Flour Mills, and Bakels East Africa. 

Discussions centred on rising input costs, enforcement gaps and the need for consistent standards to ensure fortified products remain both affordable and accessible.

Food safety risks were further examined in the second panel, “Aflatoxin: counting the cost for safe food,” moderated by Ann Muiruri. 

Speakers highlighted the economic and public health burden of contamination, as well as the role of testing, traceability and innovation in mitigating risks across the grain value chain.

Beyond compliance and safety, the conference placed significant emphasis on distribution and retail realities.

In Kenya, an estimated 70% of consumer purchases happen in informal retail. Not supermarkets. Dukas.

This reality shaped discussions on the second day, particularly during the “Smart Duka” session led by TechnoServe, a key sponsor alongside Pakmaya. 

The session brought micro-retailers into the conversation, highlighting their role as critical gatekeepers of food safety at the last mile.

TechnoServe’s model, which connects millers with small retailers through structured networks, is already showing measurable impact. 

A pilot between August and December 2025 engaged more than 5,000 micro-retailers, moving 84 metric tonnes of product and generating over KES 8.3 million in transactions. 

The approach also addresses a key constraint in informal retail: access to working capital, with consignment-based supply models helping shop owners stock certified, fortified products without upfront financial strain.

Roundtable discussions throughout the event reinforced a common theme: systems must work end-to-end. 

From sourcing and milling to distribution and retail, gaps at any stage can undermine food safety outcomes.

CMA’s broader ambition reflects this systems approach. 

The association is working to strengthen certification standards, expand fortification compliance and build capacity beyond its membership, including among smaller industry players. 

As Suad Abubaker noted, the goal is not only to ensure safe products but also to “change the narrative on malnutrition” by making nutritious, fortified foods consistently available to consumers.

With Kenya’s food system under pressure from cost volatility, climate risks and population growth, the discussions highlighted that food safety does not stop at the factory gate. 

It ends at the shelf. And increasingly, that shelf is in a neighbourhood duka.

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