One on One with Peter Mwako, Spokesperson at Koko Fuel

Tell us more about yourself, who is Peter?

Am I the Peter that denied Jesus 3 times? No. Am I the Peter who likes to have fun, passionate about problem-solving solutions, ambitious and always after how can we make it work? Yes!

How long have you been in the clean energy sector?

Four years.

Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur (this is new territory in Kenya)?

If entrepreneurship is about taking risks, then yes because that’s what I’m all about. When you only know the start point and the endpoint, figuring out the unknown in between is what will define you. “Knowing is not enough, you must apply. Being willing is not enough, you must do” This statement really resonates with me and is my driving force.

How would you like history to judge you?

By the number of lives, I have improved and transformed. Ten lives, well and good. A million plus, excellent!

Do you think Kenya is on the right track in utilizing clean fuel?

Yes. For a long time, a large percentage of the population has been using firewood, charcoal, kerosene and the other dirty fuels. Seeing various entities getting into the clean cooking space, with KOKO’s bio-ethanol being one of them, is proof enough that we are on the right track.

And it’s simple things that consumers really want e.g. cooking without having to open all the doors and windows because of smoke and pungent odors, or having to spend lots of time to just get your cooking tools to heat up adequately before you can start cooking. These things we can and should definitely deliver.

Tell us about KOKO? Is there something beyond the name?

KOKO is an international technology company that is mainstreaming bio-ethanol cooking fuel in Kenya, starting in Nairobi. Our technology suite enables low-cost distribution of bio-ethanol cooking fuel in towns and cities across the country through our 700 strong agent network.

There is really nothing beyond the name other than my grandmother who can comfortably pronounce and connect with it.

What drives you as one of the pillars at the helm of KOKO?

Impacting the life of someone. Each new day is a day to put a meal on someone’s table. A day to add value to consumers’ health. A day to add value to the environment. A day to add value to agriculture. And a day to add value to all stakeholders and parties that we interact with.

As a young administrator, what are some of the challenges you face as a leader?

1. Culture. Each organization has its own culture. Behavior, interactions, and decisions between teams and individuals will always be different and sometimes challenging. But I try to set the right tone early on so that we are all on the same page.
2. Dead ends. When you’ve put in a lot of effort working on something and visualizing a satisfying end, but mid-way or towards the end you realize it’ll be a stalemate, can suck the energy out of you. But then you have to quickly re-strategize and go at it even harder. Anyway, what would life be without challenges? How would we improve and strive to do better?

What drove you into the clean fuel sector and not any other sector?

The opportunity of using technology to accelerate the growth of the sector, which for the longest time was the missing link.

What would you like to tell young people who would like to get to your position?

Be visionary. Understand it’s not about you but about the people you interact with and want to impact. Appreciate those who take time to develop you knowing that one day you’ll be discovered.