Kitui Flour Mills invests in digital technologies to meet client needs

To meet changing customer needs, Kitui Flour Mills has invested in a new technology that makes flour production more efficient and significantly improves quality and safety.

The latest milling technology being developed by the miller’s in-house engineers and innovation team comes with digital components to allow remote quality control.

Kitui Flour Mills General Manager Abdallah Said says the firm is raising the bar in milling technology as part of its bigger plan of continuously improving customer experience and supporting their well-being.

Mr Said says the new technology has revolutionised the milling industry and set new standards in cost-effective processes, target realisation time and energy consumption.

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The new investment is part of the firm’s bigger strategy to expand the business as it marks three decades of milling flour.

Farmers first

More than thirty years ago, Kitui Flour Mills started operations as a wholesale company in a small town tucked in Eastern.

Some 12 years into operation, its proprietors saw an opportunity in maize milling business and ventured into it. At that time they served only a small population mainly households that would require just a few kilos milled for daily consumption.

Demand for its quality milling services grew with time, opening new business opportunities within neighbouring border towns and eventually across the country. Since 1987, the company has consistently supplied Kenyan homes with flour. To cater for growing demand and changing customer preferences, Kitui Flour Mills started producing a range of nutritious products, diversifying from maize only to include wheat products.

“Years later, we now have several milling plants nationwide producing a wide range of nutritious products,” says Said.

From this humble beginnings, the maker of Unga wa Dola has grown to a household name and a brand in more than 85 countries across the globe.

“Throughout the years, the Kitui Flour Mills family has been united and fortified by love, loyalty, sharing and solidarity. We strive to unceasingly provide quality superior products,” Said says.

Milling capacity

The firm produces more than six different brands of wheat and maize flour. They include the firm’s flagship brand, Unga wa Dola. Other brands include Jahazi Flour, Unga Wa Dola Bakers Flour, Ziwa Premium Flour, Babalao flour and KFM Chenga flour. These have been made possible through its milling plants that have a combined milling capacity of over 2,500 tonnes a day. 

As part of its bigger dream, the miller has created over 2,000 jobs both direct and indirectly. It has also played a strategic role in supporting small holder farmers producing raw material for processed flour.

Through Cereal Millers Association, the miller works closely with farmers to make sure their crop is bought during the harvest period, and at a profit.