K A I
Happiness through Quality Food for Everyone
KAI『邂』means a fateful meeting.
We work with producers to find better ways to get food to the table and provide
safe,
secure and delicious food.
KAI - The Sushi Restaurant -
Tuesday to Sunday
12:00 to 22:00 (Last Order 20:45)
+254 792 11 22 33
Marsabit Plaza, Ngong Road
KAI - The Sushi Bar -
Monday to Sunday
11:00 to 18:00
Chandarana Yaya Centre
Carrefour Junction Mall
Carrefour Sarit Centre
Carrefour Village Market
Carrefour The Hub, Karen
Fresh Fish
We aim to ensure a stable supply of high quality fresh fish caught along the Kenyan Coast in cooperation with local fishermen
Kenya has a coastline of 480km along the Indian Ocean. The sea is rich and one of the leading fishing grounds for yellowfin tuna. There are many other fish which are also found in the southern seas of Japan. However, the seafood culture is very poor even in the coastal region. Needless to say, there is no raw food culture. The fishery has not been developed enough and awareness of freshness is low. Nairobi, which is the capital of consumption, is located 500km inland and although there is a well-developed national road, the cold chain itself has not been developed.
Tasks
Freshness management / Stable supply
- Fisherman's knowledge and awareness of freshness
- Insufficient equipment (refrigeration equipments, medium and large size fishing boats, fishing gears)
- Seasonality (For about half a year from May to October, monsoons do not allow fishing as expected)
- Improvement of supervision/operation of BMU (Beach Management Unit ≒ fishery association)
Trials
Long-term storage using Rapid-Freezer technology
- Focus on fishermen who understand the concept well
- Stock as much as possible during the high catch season (November-April) with freezing by Rapid-Freezer and keeping in Deep-Freezer
Next Steps
Support for fishery stakeholders
- Sharing knowledge about freshness management
- Cooperation with BMU in each region
- Stable purchase
Short-term Goal
To wholesale to restaurants, and obtain retail certification of KEBS (Kenya Bureau Of Standards) and retail at supermarkets.
Japonica Rice
We aim to achieve high quality Japanese rice cultivation and stable supply in cooperation with rice farmers in Kenya
In 2016, we began contract cultivation in the rural area of
Mwea, located south of Mount Kenya. With the support of
JICA, a system of irrigation has been in use for a long time in this area, and support for
cultivation has also been provided to farmers. The farmers here cultivate long grain rice
(fragrant basmati).
The contract cultivation was triggered by the voice of a JICA rice expert who was working in
Mwea. More than 10 years ago, Koshihikari seeds were brought in for research purposes, but
their quality had deteriorated after being left for many years. Screening for quality was
conducted by the expert, and he provided us with the best products. At the same time, he
also introduced us to a rice farmer who had been trained in cultivation. We have continued
to grow together since then.
Tasks
The screening was successful but those seeds were of reduced quality. They did not produce the best results in terms of yield, taste, etc.
Trials
With the help of a professor in JKUAT (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology), we brought in seeds that had been inspected for export in Japan and started cultivation demonstration experiments.
Next Steps
We are looking to conduct commercial cultivation experiments in collaboration with the Mwea branch of KALRO (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization)
Short-term Goal
To wholesale to restaurants, and obtain retail certification of KEBS (Kenya Bureau Of Standards) and retail at supermarkets.
Partnerships
We are looking for partners with whom we can undertake challenges in Africa, the Last
Frontier
Reach out to us at +254 717 11 22 33 or kyohei@kai.co.ke.
- Established a joint venture KEA TRADING LTD.
- Import and sales of Kikkoman products and other Japanese food-related products, marketing and branding, etc.
- 2019, we were entrusted with Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry / “Fifth Tobidase Japan!” Construction of kitchen-type incubation facility business with food hygiene management system.
- 2018, we were entrusted with Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries / Market development project to solve food value chain issues in Africa.
- 2021, started to import Tengumai of Syata Syuzou and Kozaemon & Yuzu Sake of Nakashima Jouzou to Kenya
- 2020, launched a joint project to spread Japanese Sake in Africa
- 2022, signed MoU and launched a joint project of rice cultivation, mainly in the Mwea region
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have supported the A-GOAL project that delivers food and other essentials to low-income households through local sports clubs in some areas since May 2020. (KAI's Director is one of the founding members and its vice-president.)
- As part of this initiative, we have assisted 10,000 people between May 2020 and 31st Jan. 2021, and will expand our target area to reach out to more families that need help.
- 2022, we were entrusted with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries / Demonstration project to establish a food value chain through a consortium of companies in Africa and other countries
- We are looking to implement ideas such as "Village rice mills" with local rice farmers in the Mwea region
About Us
History
May 2024
ANDO Foods Ltd. and K.K. entered into a partnership aiming to further promote Japanese food in Africa.
Oct. 2023
KEA Trading Ltd. was officially rebranded to Kikkoman East Africa Ltd.
Jan. 2023
Launched a YATAI concept ramen shop at The Alchemist.
Apr. 2022
Assigned to a project with Karasawa Nouki Service Co., Ltd. and MOL, 「Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries / Demonstration Project for Establishment of Food Value Chain by Consortium of Companies in Africa and Other Countries」
Mar. 2022
MoU signed with KILIMOL, an MOL Group company, to launch a joint project on rice cultivation mainly in the Mwea region.
Mar. 2021
Launched a restaurant with Saraya Co. Ltd.
Feb. 2021
Launched a partnership with Carrefour and started selling sushi at their Westgate branch.
Apr. 2020
Launched a kitchen project with Saraya Co. Ltd
Oct. 2019
Launched cultivation demonstration experiments of new Japanese rice seeds at JKUAT
Aug. 2019
Introduction of Rapid-Freezer with Saraya Co. Ltd. as trustees of「Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry / “Fifth Tobidase Japan!” Construction of kitchen-type incubation facility business with food hygiene management system」
Dec. 2018
Launched partnership with Shoprite which is Africa's largest retail chain. Started selling sushi at their first store in Kenya
May 2018
Provided sushi catering services at State House (again in December of the same year)
Apr. 2018
Cold chain survey with Saraya Co. Ltd & COTSCTOS Ltd. as trustees of「Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries / Market development project to solve food value chain issues in Africa」
Jan. 2018
Launched the sales activity of KEA Trading Ltd.
Aug. 2017
Established a joint venture, KEA Trading Ltd.
Jun. 2017
Reorganized to KAI Global Ltd.
Aug. 2016
Launched contract cultivation of Japanese rice with a rice farmer in the Mwea region
Jan. 2016
Launched a partnership with Chandarana Foodplus Supermarket Ltd., a local retail chain. Started selling sushi with a unique take-away style.
Representative Biography
Jan. 2016
Established KAI Ltd. (100% equity capital)
Dec. 2015
Resigned as co-representative (shares sold)
Feb. 2015
Established a Japanese restaurant and became a co-representative
Sep. 2014
Moved to Nairobi, Kenya
Mar. 2008
After graduating from the Vietnamese Department of Osaka University of Foreign Studies, worked in New Zealand (used car dealership) and in Vietnam & Singapore (NYK).