Hon. Muhika Mutahi Honoured as Most Influential Dairy Person at the Africa Dairy Industry Awards 2026

KENYA – Hon. David Muhika Mutahi, Chairman of Mukurweini Wakulima Dairy Limited (processor of Royal Milk brand), has been recognised as the Most Influential Dairy Person in the Africa Dairy Industry Awards 2026.

The accolade was presented during a ceremony co-located with the Africa Dairy Innovation Summit on 17 April 2026.

The recognition of Hon. Muhika Mutahi as the Most Influential Dairy Person at the Africa Dairy Industry Awards 2026 highlights his long-standing leadership in building and scaling Mukurweini Wakulima Dairy Limited as a successful farmer-owned cooperative enterprise in Kenya’s dairy sector.

Hon. Muhika Mutahi has served as Chairman of Mukurweini Wakulima Dairy Limited, which was established in 1990 as a self-help group with the objective of collecting and marketing members’ milk.

The cooperative began processing fresh-packed milk under the Royal brand in June 2014.

Under his chairmanship, the organisation has grown from collecting just 31 litres of milk per day at inception to processing approximately 90,000 litres daily in recent years, with plans to expand capacity by an additional 250,000 litres to enable further value addition.

Key achievements during his tenure include the successful diversification into processing and branding.

The cooperative now produces and markets a range of value-added products under the Royal brand, including pasteurised fresh milk (packed in 200ml, 500ml, and 5-litre packs), long-life UHT milk, flavoured yoghurts (such as vanilla, strawberry, and coffee), lala (fermented milk), ghee, butter, and cheese.

These products are distributed across Kenya, with a strong presence in major markets including Nairobi.

The cooperative sources milk from approximately 20,000–25,000 smallholder farmer members (representing around 100,000 households) and employs about 300 permanent and casual staff.

It has implemented digital tools for milk traceability from farm to market, improving efficiency, quality control, and payment systems for farmers. The organisation also operates supplementary business units, including animal feed production through Bora Feeds.

Mukurweini Wakulima Dairy Limited was named the winner in the Cooperative of the Year category at the same 2026 Africa Dairy Industry Awards, reflecting the impact of its growth and operations.

The cooperative has received support from partners including the County Government of Nyeri and international donors for infrastructure and sustainability initiatives.

Hon. Muhika Mutahi’s leadership has emphasised farmer empowerment, value addition, infrastructure development, and market access in a sector dominated by smallholder production.

His tenure has seen the cooperative transition from raw milk bulking to a fully integrated model encompassing collection, processing, branding, and nationwide distribution while maintaining strong governance and community engagement.

This award acknowledges Hon. Muhika Mutahi’s individual contributions to cooperative leadership, operational scaling, product diversification, technology adoption, and the advancement of farmer-owned dairy enterprises within Kenya’s dairy value chain.

About the Africa Dairy Industry Awards

The Africa Dairy Industry Awards, held annually alongside the Africa Dairy Innovation Summit, celebrate excellence, leadership, innovation, and sustainability across the continent’s dairy value chain, from production and processing to technology, food safety, value addition, and market development.

Categories include Dairy Industry Persons of the Year (such as Most Influential Dairy Person, Chief Executive Officer of the Year), Dairy Product Innovations of the Year, Dairy Processor of the Year, and others for cooperatives, investments, and commercial farms.

The awards recognise outstanding contributions by individuals, organisations, and projects, bringing together farmers, processors, cooperatives, researchers, policymakers, and investors to promote best practices and greater competitiveness in the sector.

Full details are available at https://africadairysummit.com/awards/.

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