Unibrain Industries Limited is a dynamic agro-processing enterprise founded by Oscar Makokha. With a vision to enhance food security, promote nutrition, and drive youth employment, the company has grown exponentially from its humble beginnings at the Bumula Constituency Industrial Development Centre to leasing a fully-fledged facility at Saphire Business Park in Mlolongo within just four years.
Specializing in value addition within the agro-industrial sector, Unibrain Industries produces fortified whole grain products, including maize flour and instant porridge flour among other nutrient-enriched food solutions. The company is the largest supplier of Corn Soya blend porridge flour to the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) and the Kiharu Constituency School feeding programs. At optimal production, Unibrain’s facility processes between 20 to 24 tonnes of fortified products daily, ensuring consistent supply and high-quality standards.
Corn Soya blend porridge flour consignments for the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) and the Kiharu Constituency School feeding programs
Unibrain Industries sources its raw materials from local farmers in Bungoma through the Unibrain Agro Industry Association, a registered Association under the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA). The association comprises 12,000 farmers, with 3,000 actively supplying raw materials for production. Oscar Makokha, the company’s founder, also serves as the association’s chairman.
To empower farmers and ensure sustainability, the association runs a Farmer Field School, equipping local growers with best practices in soya and sweet potato farming, key ingredients in fortified porridge. One of Unibrain’s core objectives is to promote homegrown solutions by increasing local sourcing of soya and reducing reliance on imports from Ethiopia, Uganda, and Malawi. This approach enhances traceability, strengthens supply chain sustainability, and boosts local economic growth.
Once the grains arrive at Unibrain’s facility, they undergo rigorous quality control, including in-house laboratory testing, sorting, cleaning, and de-stoning to ensure the highest product safety and quality standards before processing.
Currently, Unibrain Industries operates two retail outlets in Kitengela, offering a range of fortified products under the brand name Mother Mary, including fortified whole grain maize meal, fortified super porridge and corn-soya blend uji. The company currently employs 70 staff, with 90% of them being youth. In 3 years, they aim to expand our operations to include 500 employees.
Sample products from Unibrain and an overview of the facility at Saphire Business Park in Mlolongo
Plans are underway to establish a permanent facility on a three-acre site, significantly expanding production capacity. The company is diversifying into juice processing, dairy products (such as yoghurt and ice cream), animal feeds using underutilized cottage industries in Bungoma, and horticulture-based nutritional supplements. Additionally, Unibrain Industries is venturing into contract manufacturing for other brands, engaging youths to develop their own products, assisting them obtain certification from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and distributing them in their retail outlets.
For more details about Unibrain Industries’ product offerings and operations, visit their website at https://unibrainkenya.co.ke/products
