Made in Kenya: Youth-Led Startup Builds Edible Oil Machines to Cut Imports and Empower Farmers

In a country where edible oil remains a daily staple in most households, the high reliance on imports has long posed a challenge to both affordability and sustainability. Now, a bold Kenyan innovator is stepping up with a homegrown solution that could change how the country produces its cooking oil.

In 2023, Davis Bahati, fed up with the soaring prices of edible oil, teamed up with a friend to find a more sustainable alternative. Together, they launched Edible Oil Machine Fabricators, a local venture that designs and manufactures machines capable of extracting edible oil from crops like sunflower, peanuts, coconut, soya beans, canola, and macadamia.

“We started the project by testing which crops were most viable,” Bahati explains. “Eventually, we developed a multitasking machine that can extract oil from various seeds.”

The machines, designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind, have become a game-changer for small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs. Davis Murimi, an engineer at the startup, explains how the technology works:

“It has a heating element that warms the shaft to the appropriate temperature based on the type of seed being pressed. The output is crude oil, which can then be filtered or left to decant naturally by gravity. With the right seeds, you can extract 10–15 kilograms of oil per hour.”

One of the key advantages of the machines is their accessibility. According to Bahati, they are made of stainless steel, consume less energy, and don’t require three-phase power to operate.

“Once trained, anyone can use the machine. You don’t need an engineering background. It’s simple, efficient, and ideal for rural setups,” he says.

The team is now focused on training more youth across Kenya and East Africa to adopt this technology as a way to become self-reliant and enter the agro-processing industry.

“Our aim is to create sustainable income opportunities. The return on investment is solid, and the demand for locally made edible oil is only going to grow,” Bahati adds.

With innovation at its heart and empowerment as its goal, Edible Oil Machine Fabricators is not just making machines—it is manufacturing opportunity, independence, and a pathway to a more food-secure Kenya.

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Made in Kenya: Youth-Led Startup Builds Edible Oil Machines to Cut Imports and Empower Farmers