Unicharm, Toyota Tsusho, CFAO Kenya put KES 2 billion into Kenyan sanitary-pad firm

Japan's Unicharm Corporation, Toyota Tsusho Corporation and CFAO Kenya Limited have launched Sofy Unicharm East Africa Limited, a KES 2 billion venture to make and sell sanitary pads in Kenya, The Star reported on 15 October 2026. Operations began in September 2026, The Star said, citing Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui. The Standard also reported a September 2026 start.

Toyota Tsusho's 14 August 2026 release puts the company's capital at KES 2 billion and gives the shareholding: Unicharm Corporation 75.0 per cent, Toyota Tsusho Corporation 17.5 per cent and CFAO Kenya Limited 7.5 per cent. The company is based in Nairobi. CFAO Kenya is a Toyota Tsusho Group company.

The release lists the company's business as the manufacture and sale of sanitary products and disposable diapers, and export to neighbouring countries. The Star said it handles production, product development, sales and marketing in Kenya and plans to supply and export to neighbouring markets.

It starts with women's hygiene products, beginning with sanitary pads, and plans to move into other personal care products, including baby diapers, The Star reported. The Standard reported that Unicharm brings personal hygiene expertise, Toyota Tsusho regional reach and CFAO Kenya its distribution network.

Toyota Tsusho said it will use CFAO Kenya's logistics network to keep products supplied in East Africa.

The brand is already on Kenyan shelves. CFAO Kenya and Unicharm began importing Sofy Deep Absorb, a premium pad made at Unicharm's plant in Egypt, in 2023, according to Toyota Tsusho. Local production of Sofy Long Lasting, a standard-priced pad, started in January 2025, and the company has since introduced single-pad sachets, The Star said.

Unicharm President and CEO Takahisa Takahara said, as quoted by The Star: "Starting with women as our focal point, we aim to evolve into a company that supports lifetime value." Daigo Fujiwara, managing director of Sofy Unicharm East Africa, said the business would focus on affordable feminine care products, The Star reported.

Kinyanjui welcomed the investment. "Promoting local production is central to our Ministry," he said, as quoted by The Star. "We welcome this investment as an opportunity to deepen manufacturing in Kenya and progressively increase the local content of the products made here."

The Star reported that the company cited estimates that about 54 per cent of Kenyan girls have had difficulty obtaining sanitary products. It said the company has worked with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women Kenya on menstrual health programmes.

The Kenyan arrangement was first announced on 18 June 2025, when Toyota Tsusho gave the planned capital as KES 2 billion and the same three-way shareholding. The venture was then named Sofy East Africa Limited. Business Daily reported on 31 March 2026 that the three firms had asked the COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission to approve the joint venture, and that it plans to expand into Uganda and other East African countries.