Afia Juice Billionaire Kimani Rugendo Eyes Malawi Expansion

Kevian Kenya founder Kimani Rugendo is mulling an expansion into Malawi. Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera detailed talks in which Rugendo confirmed that he was exploring opportunities in the market.

Kevian manufacturers the popular Afia and Pick n Peel fruit juices distributed in Kenya and East and Southern Africa. It also produces energy drinks, non-alcoholic malt drinks and tomato sauce among other goods.

Chakwera appealed to Rugendo to invest in Malawi and to encourage other Kenyan investors to do so as well. According to reports by Malawian media, Chakwera vowed to the prioritize investment-friendly policies to create a conducive environment for economic growth and increase exports.

“I have urged Mr Rugendo to consider Malawi as his next investment destination because we have a large contingent of fruit farmers across the country whose abundant yield is a readily-available raw material in the agro-processing operations,” Chakwera explained. “I am glad that Mr Rugendo has assured me to explore where within our market can his venture make a positive difference. He is also considering bringing on board other Kenyan private sector players to follow suit.”

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Rugendo was accompanied to the meeting with Chakwera by Kenya’s former anti-corruption czar Professor PLO Lumumba, who recently featured as a keynote speaker at the National Anti-Corruption Symposium in Blantyre.

In July 2020, Kevian ventured into the potato production business after signing a deal with the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO). The plan would see Kevian commercialise five of Kalro’s high-yielding potato seed varieties  to boost production of varieties required by multinational franchises, who had long depended on imports.

KALRO awarded Kevian a 15-year contract to produce potato tubers targeting 50,000 farmers. The deal would see Kevian remit 2.5% of its annual sales to Kalro.

“We will offer the best price possible in the market, but farmers would be free to sell their produce elsewhere if they want,” Rugendo stated.

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