On Friday, July 14, the Trade Cabinet Secretary unveiled a new initiative to introduce cooking oil dispensers throughout the country. During a meeting at State House between President William Ruto and Indonesian investors, the Cabinet Secretary explained that the objective was to cater to Kenyans who purchase cooking oil in small quantities.
The Cabinet Secretary acknowledged that the current packaging of cooking oil was costly, making it unaffordable for many Kenyans. To establish a stronger connection with the people, he revealed that the dispensed oil would be named “mama pima.”
“We are currently in the process of shipping the dispensers, which will be called mama pima, and they will be deployed nationwide, including within our informal settlements. This will effectively dismantle the cartels in this sector,” he stated.
However, the Cabinet Secretary did not disclose the specific pricing for the dispensed oil, nor did he provide a timeline for the project’s implementation.
In countries where cooking oil dispensers have been implemented, the oil is sold at various prices based on an individual’s financial capability, with the minimum price being Ksh10. These dispensers operate similarly to water and milk ATM machines.
President William Ruto also expressed his intentions to collaborate with Indonesian investors to enhance palm oil farming in Kenya. Additionally, he encouraged the investors to utilize Kenya as a gateway to other parts of Africa.
“Through the port of Mombasa, you can access Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Burundi. This grants you access to a market of 500 million people, which can be reached through the port of Mombasa. We are committed to improving the port of Mombasa to encourage investment in this region,” he emphasized.