It is simply called "mrangi", colored paint.
The Bixa Orellana plant is a shrub belonging to the Bixaceae family, not native to Africa but now widespread, especially in Kenya, so much so that the extract obtained from its seeds, called "annatto" or achiote, is exported throughout the world and makes the African country the second most important market, behind only Peru and ahead of all the other South American countries where Bixa has always been grown.
Originally from the American continent, this small tree was transported by the Spanish starting from the 17th century, arriving first in Southeast Asia and then in Africa.
This evergreen shrub can reach here in Kenya a maximum height of around 3 meters, its flowers are white or pink, or a combination of the two colors.
But why is bixa so important, especially for seed extract?
Fruits are ovoid capsules covered by smooth and soft thorns and have a size of about 4 cm, of a color varying from scarlet red to deep red; inside them are contained many fleshy seeds, about fifty, cone shaped, covered by a red pulp.
When it is completely ripe, the pod hardens and opens.
Especially in ancient times, one of the main uses of this extract was the painting of the body, face and hair, which were practiced among different tribes for decorative purposes or to keep away evil spirits and diseases.
This pigment plays an important economic role worldwide as it is one of the most widely used natural dyes to color foods, such as cheese, butter or soft drinks, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It is commonly used in foods because the coloring does not alter the taste and, above all, it is not toxic.
Among cosmetic products we find: lipsticks, hair dyes, nail polishes, soaps, lacquers and paints.
Annatto dye, red-orange in color, is rich in carotenoid pigments, 80% is made of bixin (the red pigment) and norbixin or orellin (the yellow pigment). 
The cultivation of Bixa was introduced in the coastal regions of Kenya, in particular in Kwale and Lamu Counties, around the seventies and in recent times it is giving good results to farmers who decided to invest in this crop. Kenya exports about 1,500 tons of annatto seeds and extracts every year. As Bixa is a very drought-resistant plant, it grows easily in subtropical or tropical climates with good sun exposure and humidity all year round.