November 1, 2026
Kenya’s maize millers have been urged to move beyond traditional plain ugali and develop flavoured varieties such as strawberry and vanilla, as the government seeks to expand export markets and prepare for a growing population.
Principal Secretary for Industry Juma Mukwana made the call on Saturday, October 31, 2026, during the Kenya Millers Fortification Index Awards. He challenged manufacturers to create “standalone” ugali products that could appeal to consumers outside traditional markets and help feed a projected population of about 70 million by 2050. Kenyans
“As we navigate this landscape, we have to find out… how are you going to feed 70 million in 2050? We want ugali that is standalone. Whether it’s strawberry, whether it’s vanilla… maybe that is the only way you will get this ugali to cross the oceans to other places,” Mukwana said. Kenyans
The proposal aims to give Kenya’s staple food broader international appeal while addressing rising demand at home. Mukwana encouraged millers to rethink product lines and innovate to attract new consumers both locally and abroad. Kenyans
Cereals Millers Association of Kenya Chairman Beju Shah welcomed the challenge. He said industry players are ready to explore new ideas and products, while also calling for stronger government support to sustain the milling sector. Kenyans
The suggestion comes at a time when Kenya continues to grapple with maize supply constraints, including ongoing plans to import significant quantities of the grain. The call for flavoured and innovative ugali products has already sparked public discussion online, with many Kenyans reacting with amusement or scepticism to the idea of strawberry- or vanilla-flavoured ugali. X
No commercial products or launch timelines have been announced yet. The statement remains a policy-level challenge to the industry rather than a confirmed product rollout. Separate innovations in Kenya’s maize sector, such as fortified and instant ugali flours developed by institutions including the University of Eldoret, have been progressing, but these are distinct from the flavoured varieties proposed by the Principal Secretary.
Industry observers say any move toward flavoured ugali would require careful market testing, clear labelling, and consumer education, given ugali’s deep cultural status as a plain, everyday staple across Kenya and the wider East African region.