Ugali lovers in rural areas and places like Kawangware understand the pain of arriving at the posho mill then waiting for the operator for hours, only for him to appear without fuel to run the mill. Well, this and other frustrations experienced at posho mills could now be a thing of the past, thanks to an ingenious idea by one Danol Rotich.
Rotich has re-invented the traditional posho mill with an added module that operates through a programmed self-service system just like a vending machine. With this system, anyone can control the mill and it does not need an ‘operator’. The electric cum solar machine is programmed to allow the customer to operate the mill by slotting a certain amount of money, which then turns the machine on. A key menu enables the customer to select the grade he wants his maize to be milled. Rotich, who is also a lecturer at Eldoret Polytechnic, says the module is programmed to accept coins between Sh4 and Sh40. It can also return change depending on the portion of maize to be milled.
“I started working on the idea in 2018 with an intention of programming and computerizing the traditional posho mill to work on its own,” Rotich told CityBiz adding “The machine needs to be placed in a safe place because of its operation time as it can run for 24 hours. With this machine, a client checks into the posho mill, pays and operates the machine single-handedly. Every step as instructed by the client is displayed on the monitoring screen.”
He says Sh10 mills two kilograms of maize, while however noting that prices may vary depending on the time, place and season. He explains, “In case of excess maize, the mill stops at a point since the system will have automatically related the token (coin) and the amount of maize. For instance, if a customer inserts Sh10 to grind four kilos of maize, then the machine will automatically stop after two kilos of maize have been milled.” A bonus to the innovation is that clients who do not have cash can pay through mobile money such as M-Pesa.
Rotich mentions that he polished the invention in partnership with his former student, Furaha Kevin. “It was not easy to come up with a fully functional module,’ he says noting that some of the machine’s components include microcon solars used for programming purposes, actuators which include conductors, relays and lastly a posho mill for incorporation. He is now intending to produce and sell the machines on a large scale. A single automated mill can retail between Sh10,000 and 30,000 depending on its size. The mill has a one-year guarantee and can be delivered countrywide.
Rotich says it takes a day to install the machine. As for returns, one has the option of collecting the coins from a safe box that uses a module key. The safe box can be opened daily or weekly depending on the owner’s preference.
“The invention will not phase out the original posho mill. The only thing we have done is to incorporate a module into it, adjusted the size of the hose pipe and done electrical wiring to make it more efficient,” he says noting that owners of the old-school posho mills can have them upgraded in only three days.