Menengai Oil Refineries Ltd began in 1988 by Mr. P. D. Shah and his father Mr. D. K. Shah. The organisations started from humble beginnings in the upholstery business, then referred to as Menengai Drapers Ltd.  Later, in 1990 three brothers P.D. Shah, K.D. Shah and A.D. Shah jointly registered the Menengai Soap Factory Ltd. The Manufacture of soap was a successful venture and in 1994 it was decided that the company would venture into the manufacture of edible cooking oil and thus the birth of MENENGAI OIL REFINERIES LTD.

In 2011, Rai Group took over the company and embarked on revamping it by introducing the latest state-of-the-art machinery in the refinery, capacity building and product re-branding.

Today, the company is renowned for the manufacture and distribution of leading products key of which are Top Fry Vegetable Cooking Oil, Karibu and Somo Vegetable Cooking Fats, Menengai Cream and Kibuyu Bar Soaps alongside industrial detergents, as well as Menendazi Baking Powder Plain and Vanilla.