Unlocking Mama Pima Cooking Oil Dispensers: CS Kuria’s Guide
Monday, Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria unveiled the long-awaited Mama-Pima cooking oil dispensing machines, which will allow Kenyans to purchase cooking oil in smaller quantities and at lower prices than the current market prices.
The administration of President William Ruto has maintained that its entry into an industry already dominated by the private sector is intended to protect Kenyan consumers from exploitative trade practices, despite heavy criticism.
Josiah Murigu, the Communications Officer at the Ministry of Trade, explained to GossipA2Z.com that all traders must do to acquire the machines is exhibit themselves at the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) headquarters in Nairobi and pay Ksh185,000.
Groups will also be eligible to become retailers, according to Murigu, as the Ministry has no plans to implement restrictions or require qualifications.
“You can walk into KNTC and leave with your machine without having to fill out any paperwork,” he stated.
In addition, he disclosed that the government will sell the oil for Ksh210 per liter, which is less than the Ksh340 per liter that traders currently pay to purchase oil from local producers.
Murigu confirmed that the Indonesian government supplied the vending machines. Additionally, he verified that 100 machines are already present in the country.
“I cannot determine the exact number of donations made by Indonesians because some are still in transit,” he disclosed.
Murigu added that CS Kuria is collaborating with regional manufacturers to initiate the production of additional machinery, thereby expanding their market availability.
During the inauguration, KNTC Managing Director Pamela Mutua emphasized that the project’s objective is to empower Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly women and youth.
“The initiative creates employment opportunities in addition to making cooking oil more available and affordable. Individuals and groups can operate vending machines as small enterprises, thereby contributing to job creation and fostering opportunities for self-employment, she explained.
CS Kuria praised the initiative in a statement, noting that it is consistent with the Kenya Kwanza government’s Bottom Up Economic Model, which seeks to empower low-income earners.
“Residents will be able to purchase cooking oil for as little as Ksh20,” Kuria said.
His Co-operatives & Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) counterpart, Simon Chelugui, urged Kenyans to utilize the Hustler Fund to obtain financing for the purchase of vending machines.
Chelugui disclosed that group business financing under the program range between Ksh200,000 and Ksh2 million.
Unlocking Mama Pima Cooking Oil Dispensers: CS Kuria’s Guide
