COOKING OIL ATM VENDING MACHINE aka The ATM ya Mafuta.
Bernard Nyacuma is the founder of Kwanza City Technologies (KCT) and the lead innovator behind its Cooking Oil ATM systems. In 2015, he designed and implemented a custom programmable control system to address the challenge of hygienic, accurate, and variable-quantity dispensing of cooking oil within retail environments.
Working from first principles, Bernard developed an early Programmed Logic Unit (PLC) tailored specifically for liquid oil dispensing. The initial system was built using a Microchip PIC18F2550 microcontroller and was later upgraded over time to STM32 and ESP32 architectures as the technology evolved.
His work formed the foundation of KCT’s approach to practical, locally engineered vending solutions.
Early Technical Contributor : Joyce Nyokabi
Joyce Nyokabi played a critical role in the early technical development of KCT’s control systems. She was directly involved in the manual fabrication of the earliest printed circuit boards, including the hand-etching of copper-clad boards using hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide. This hands-on process enabled the creation of the first working control units that powered KCT’s initial Cooking Oil ATM deployments. Her contribution was foundational to the successful commissioning of the earliest machines.
First Commissioning Partners
Mr. and Mrs. P. Kamangu Proprietors, Malaika Cereals – Sunton Estate, Kasarani, Nairobi The first Cooking Oil ATM developed by Kwanza City Technologies was commissioned at Malaika Cereals in 2015. Mr. & Mrs. Paul identified the need for a solution that allowed customers to purchase small, flexible quantities of cooking oil in a hygienic and controlled manner. Their shop served as the first real-world deployment site, and the original machine installed there remains operational today, having undergone multiple control system upgrades over time