Dear Stakeholder,

We, at Kapa Oil Refineries Limited are proudly committed to the United Nations Global Compact Ten Principles and the Code of Ethics for Business in Kenya.

In 2019, we celebrated our 50th Anniversary of the founding of our company in 1969. Our founders were three young but determined brothers. They started a small salt packaging business called Karania Packers. Karania Packers went on to manufacture baking powder, creating our iconic blue-and-yellow Chapa Mandashi brand. But in the 1970s, we decided to venture into making quality household products for our region. And we started with edible oil. The rest is history. Today, Kapa Oil Refineries is a leading manufacturer of edible oils, baking powder, soap, tissue, detergents, noodles and kitchen towels in Eastern Africa.

This idea of quality products for our households in Africa remains at the core of our business. Our promise to the users of our products is found in our tagline “Bright Ideas. Better Products”. We have invested in top-notch plants and machinery to ensure that we are efficient in creating quality. Our raw materials are sourced from vetted suppliers and tested to ensure that our inputs meet or exceed expectations. Our manufacturing process is certified by SGS for meeting the stringent ISO 22000:2005. And our people are continuously learning and innovating. As a corporate citizen, we are pleased to contribute to the development of Kenya and Africa by creating employment, providing products that promote the well-being of our communities and embedding sustainable processes that protect the environment, uphold human rights and promote ethical business and behaviour.

The UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles, the Code of Ethics for Business in Kenya and UN Sustainable Development Goals are therefore ingrained in our business model. By providing quality and fortified food products as well as sanitation products, we help ensure healthy lives (SDG 3). Our specific range of affordable food products helps to reduce hunger (SDG 2). Through our investment in modern manufacturing plants, we build industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9). In creating employment and monitoring our labour practices, as well as those of our contractors, we provide decent work (SDG 8). Through our investment in 1.5 MW solar installation, Kapa ensures access to clean energy (SDG 7). Our decision to use the biomass by-products of other manufacturers to fire our steam boiler has reduced emissions and is geared toward climate action (SDG 13). Our processes designed to ensure zero tolerance for anti-corruption and bribery, including a hotline, robust training and top management commitment to this promotes our region’s justice and institutions (SDG 16). And we are proud to partner with other, through the Kenya Association of Manufacturing and the UN Global Compact to help achieve these ambitious yet desperately needed goals (SDG 17).

The Covid-19 pandemic has not deterred us in our commitments. It has been a challenge but we have risen to meet as our communities have. We have instituted a Covid-19 policy with several protocols to ensure that we continue to operate safely. We have put in place social distancing mechanisms in our factories and cafeterias. Handwashing stations have been erected across our campus. All persons on our premises have their temperature checked at the gate and are required wear masks properly and at all times. We have also availed testing for our staff. Despite a difficult year, we retained all our staff and have not instituted any pay cuts.

Whenever we report to work, we with a mind to provide to a Better Product. A product that is good for you, good for our people, good for our economy, good for our environment and good for our future.

Nitin Shah
Chief Executive Officer