Africa Innovates Magazine - Flipbook - Page 60
CLEAN COOKING
FOR BETTER
HEALTH AND PLANET
IN KENYA
IIMPROVED LIVELIHOODS
Mukuru Clean Stoves (MCS) designs, manufactures and distributes
improved, efficient and reliable stoves. They are made from locally
sourced recycled metal and distributed through networks of women
entrepreneurs and local microfinance institutions.
FIGHTING
AIR POLLUTION
Burning solid fuels such as wood, charcoal and
agricultural waste in open fires and traditional
stoves exposes families to air pollution levels
as much as 50 times greater than the World
Health Organization guidelines recommend for
clean air. Clean cooking stoves decrease fuel
consumption by 30-60%, reduce toxic smoke
emissions by 50-90% and lower the risk of
burns in children under five by 40%.
MCS has developed a low-cost clean cooking
stove that uses up to 60% less fuel compared
to other traditional stoves on the market,
reducing toxic smoke emissions by up to 90%.
The stoves are designed to be much more
stable and sheltered than traditional stoves,
preventing the risk of burns in children by 40%.
INNOVATION
AND EDUCATION
Charlot Magayi grew up in Mukuru, one of
the largest neighborhoods in Nairobi, Kenya.
The enterprise she created has helped foster
women’s entrepreneurship. 100% of MCS sales
agents are women and 85% of them live in
the communities that they serve. Further, they
partner with local female-owned businesses to
reach their target market.
MCS is determined to educate as many mothers
as possible about the dangers of household
air pollution and encourage them to use safer
cooking devices in their homes. Providing
young mothers with clean stoves and training
them to be advocates for the importance
of clean energy is the most effective way to
ensure the message is communicated at scale
to large dwellings.
Photo credit: Mukuru
“I founded Mukuru Clean Stoves to help mothers keep
their children safe, save on fuel consumption, and reduce
household air pollution.”
Charlot Magayi,
Mukuru Clean Stoves founder & CEO
“Mukuru Clean Stoves (MCS) designs, manufactures, and
distributes improved, efficient, and reliable cookstoves.
MCS makes its stoves with locally sourced recycled metal
and distributes them through networks of local women
business owners and microfinance institutions. MCS’s
vision is to significantly reduce household air pollution in
underserved markets in Africa.“
Photo credit: Mukuru
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Charlot Magayi
Mukuru Clean Stoves founder & CEO
SHOWCASING AFRICAN CLIMATE CHAMPIONS
