KAM Announces Top Woman Manufacturer as New Chair

Flora Mutahi Takes over as the First Female Chair of the KAM board

Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has announced Ms. Flora Mutahi as the new Chairperson of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers’ Board of Directors, for a two-year term. This announcement makes her the first woman to Chair for the Association’s board since its inception in 1959.

Ms. Mutahi, described as one of the most dynamic female entrepreneurs in Africa, is a leading manufacturer in Kenya and a renowned industry expert. She is the founder and CEO of Melvin Marsh International – a company known for making the popular Melvins flavored tea blends, salt and rice products under the brand name – Melvins. She first made her debut into the entrepreneurial world in the 1990s and ventured into new territory introducing the first flavored tea into the Kenyan market.

Speaking at KAM House after her appointment she said, “As I step into this position I will continue to drive Kenya’s vision of becoming a middle income country by 2030. We shall focus on KAM playing a prominent role in opening up Intra-African trade; nurturing the promise and potential of our SMEs; leveraging counties as the champions of economic growth for Kenyans and promoting the ease of doing business.

My leadership shall focus on three key tenets; Engage -continued engagement of key stakeholders, Entrench – laying the ground work for stronger policies to guide the growth of industry and Expanding linkages and market opportunities to grow our export markets especially for SMEs.”

She added that taxation policies, prompt payment, VAT refunds and single business licenses remain critical areas of engagement with Government.

Ms. Mutahi takes over from ARM Cement CEO Pradeep Paunrana’s two year tenure that focused on strategies to protect, promote and prepare the manufacturing industry through partnerships with institutions such as, The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, KRA, KEBS, CRA, The Judiciary among others, in driving the industrialization agenda for the country. He will remain an ex-officio member of the Association’s board.

KAM continues to promote a progressive and visionary environment for industry to thrive and to be the vehicle that delivers vision 2030 for the country, as demonstrated by its leadership and its outlined Manufacturing Priority Agenda of 2016.