David Kimondo established a small oil processing facility on his Nyeri farm 13 years ago after discovering canola's benefits. The entrepreneur now operates Kieni Canola Oils, specializing in cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil that fetches Sh3,000 per liter.
Kimondo's process involves drying pumpkin seeds to 11% moisture content before cold-pressing them to extract oil. The byproduct—pumpkin flesh—is ground into flour sold at Sh200 per kilo. He sources seeds from 50 farmers across Machakos, Narok, and Meru, paying Sh270 per kilo.
"Demand is so high that I struggle to meet customer expectations," Kimondo said, noting his primary clients include individuals managing lifestyle diseases. A litre of pumpkin oil provides essential nutrients like zinc and vitamin C, which research scientists link to improved eye health and cancer prevention.
Kenya Medical Research Institute collaborates with Kimondo to develop oils from pumpkin, shia, eucalyptus, and neem seeds. Esther Majimdo, a Kemri researcher, emphasized that oils are more digestible than raw seeds, allowing nutrients to enter the bloodstream directly.
Kimondo's monthly output exceeds 3,000 liters, with 100ml portions priced at Sh800. His business model combines agricultural production with value-added processing, leveraging drought-resistant crops for economic sustainability.
