Miano hails Sofy Unicharm launch as win for women and local industry

Japanese-backed sanitary products venture marks shift from imports to domestic manufacturing in Kenya

By John Kariuki

Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Rebecca Miano yesterday hailed the launch of Sofy Unicharm East Africa Limited as a significant milestone for women’s health, dignity and economic empowerment, while positioning Kenya as an increasingly attractive destination for manufacturing investment.

Miano joined Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui, Principal Secretary for Correctional Services Salome Wairimu, Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Hiroshi Matsuura, and leadership teams from Toyota Tsusho, CFAO and Unicharm Corporation at the official launch of the joint venture.

The establishment of the company marks a deliberate shift from importing finished sanitary products to producing them locally — a transition that its corporate backers say responds to the everyday needs of women and girls across the region while demonstrating how strategic international partnerships can serve Kenya’s industrial development agenda.

Miano described the investment as more than a commercial undertaking. She said its real significance lay in its potential contribution to the dignity, health and well-being of women and young girls, framing access to sanitary products as an essential condition for full participation in education, work and community life.

The venture brings together Japanese technological expertise from Unicharm Corporation, CFAO’s established regional distribution networks and an understanding of local market dynamics — a combination that its principals say is designed to deliver quality products at scale while building domestic production capacity.

For Kenya, the implications extend beyond the factory floor. Local manufacturing of this kind can strengthen supply chains, expand industrial capabilities and generate employment across production and distribution value chains. It also feeds into a broader national conversation about affordable access to essential products and the role of foreign direct investment in addressing practical social needs.

Kinyanjui, whose ministry oversees industrial policy, has consistently positioned Kenya as a hub for value-addition and manufacturing, and the Sofy Unicharm launch fits squarely within that strategy. The involvement of Toyota Tsusho and CFAO — both with established footprints across East Africa — adds distribution depth to the venture and signals confidence in the region’s consumer market.

The launch drew government leaders, diplomatic representatives and senior corporate executives, reflecting the cross-sector interest in investments that align commercial growth with social development priorities. Matsuura’s presence underscored the strength of the Kenya-Japan economic relationship, which has deepened through initiatives in infrastructure, technology and private sector engagement.

Miano congratulated the partners on the milestone and expressed confidence in the venture’s long-term prospects. “When businesses align commercial growth with social needs, they contribute to initiatives that promote inclusion, improve everyday welfare and expand economic opportunities,” she said.

The success of Sofy Unicharm East Africa Limited will ultimately be measured by its ability to sustain quality local production, improve the affordability and accessibility of sanitary products, and generate tangible economic returns for Kenya — proof that purposeful enterprise and national development can advance together.

The post Miano hails Sofy Unicharm launch as win for women and local industry appeared first on The Mt Kenya Times.