Alex Gathii Gitonga, the founder and Managing Director of Tanolope Dairy Consultancy has been named the most influential dairy person of the year and is set to receive the award on Friday this week.
The award recognises an exceptional individual whose leadership, vision and professional contributions have had a profound and lasting impact on the development of the dairy sector according to FW Africa, the organisers of the Africa Dairy Industry Awards.
“Following a review of key contributions within the African dairy sector, you were selected for this recognition in appreciation of your remarkable leadership at Tanolope Consultancy, where you have played a pivotal role in strengthening advisory services and driving innovations and sustainable growth within the dairy industry,” said FW Africa CEO Francis Juma.
Juma said the Africa Dairy Industry Awards will take place as part of the Africa Dairy Innovation Summit, a two-day continental platform bringing together industry leaders, policy makers, innovators, investors and development partners in Nairobi.
Gitonga is a leading dairy industry expert with extensive experience not just in his home country of Kenya but also around the African continent where demand for his services is high. At the centre of his expertise is Tanolope Consultancy.
Tanolope Consultancy – Transforming Africa’s Dairy Future – One Farm at a Time
Starting from the rich, green highlands of Kenya and expanding into East and Central Africa, Tanolope has grown more than a consultancy — it became a movement of dairy farming.
It has become a movement that believes dairy farming in Africa should not just survive; it should thrive, becoming a globally competitive, youth-driven, and profitable industry.
From model dairy farms and precision feeding systems, to training academies and digital farm diagnostics, Tanolope has become synonymous with excellence, innovation and transformation.
The company has supported smallholders, large-scale investors, and governments — offering tailored strategies, SOPs, and real-time solutions for dairy challenges.
At its heart, Tanolope is a story of hope, science, and African excellence. A brand driven by the belief that Africa can feed itself — and the world — with the right mindset, mentorship, and models.
Tanolope Consultancy Limited was born out of a bold vision: to ignite a revolution in Africa’s dairy sector through practical solutions, farmer empowerment, and data-driven transformation.
The name Tanolope was inspired by the graceful antelope — alert, adaptive, and agile — the name represents speed, elegance, and resilience. It reflects the company’s approach to farming: smart, sustainable, and responsive to change.
Founded by Alex Gathii Gitonga, an agribusiness expert and dairy strategist, Tanolope stands at the intersection of science, sustainability, and social impact.
In 2025, Tanolope’s leadership was globally recognized when it was awarded the Pan-African Dairy Excellence and Impact Starbrands Award, cementing its position as a continental leader in dairy consulting.
Some of the projects Tanalope has handled include Bashe’s Farm in Nzega, Tabora, Tanzania, Grazers Barn Farm in Silanga, Olkalau, Kenya.
Others are Bashe’s Farm in Nzega, Tabora, Tanzania, Songa Model Dairy Farm in Nyanza region of Rwanda, Msoti Wabwino Farms in Chongwe District, Zambia and Overlands Farms in Iringa, Bagamoyo and Kibaha in Tanzania.
Tanolope also developed Kenya’s Dairy GMP Manual
Provided technical support to development of Kenya’s Agricultural Policy, Veterinary Policy, Livestock Feedstuff Policy and review of Veterinary Surgeon and Veterinary Paraprofessionals Act, Dairy Regulations
