Innovative Kenyan Woman's Stove Revolutionizing Climate Intervention and Health Improvements
In Kenya, most regions are free from malaria, except for 14 endemic regions situated along the lake and coastal areas. However, efforts to combat these health issues are being made through innovative solutions, such as Mukuru Clean Stoves (MCS), a social enterprise founded by Charlot Magayi in 2017.
Magayi, who lost her mother at the age of 2 and her father by the age of 10, was inspired to create MCS after experiencing the harmful effects of traditional cookstoves. Selling charcoal in the Mukuru slums, she suffered from respiratory infections due to the smoke, and her daughter was hospitalized due to a severe burn from a traditional stove.
Mukuru Clean Stoves produces affordable, clean, energy-efficient cookstoves made from recycled waste. These stoves are designed for underserved communities and incorporate integrated mosquito-repellent properties, making them unique globally. The dual functionality of improving respiratory health and reducing mosquito-borne disease risks is a significant breakthrough in sustainable development and health in African communities.
By March 2020, Roam and Keep IT Cool launched Africa's first electric cold-chain delivery network. This network pairs solar-powered refrigeration with Kenyan-built, clean electric motorcycles, aiming to benefit up to 1.6 million people by 2030. Roam, founded by Filip Lövström, Mikael Gånge, and Albin Wilson, initially converted traditional vehicles to electric but shifted focus to designing electric vehicles tailored for African urban and rural needs.
The upgrades, including solar refrigeration and value-addition facilities, helped reduce fish loss in Lake Turkana from 40 per cent to less than one per cent. MCS stoves have been distributed to over 600,000 households, positively impacting over 3 million people by improving air quality and reducing indoor air pollution-related health risks.
Charlot Magayi's work has earned international recognition, such as the Earthshot Prize, a prestigious global environmental award launched in 2020 by Prince William (Prince of Wales) and The Royal Foundation. In 2022, she was named one of five winners of the Earthshot Prize, receiving a US$1 million grant.
Anne Angwenyi, climate advisor at the British High Commission in Kenya, remarked that the innovations of Mukuru Clean Stoves, Keep IT Cool, and Roam are not only transforming lives but also charting a new path toward sustainability and inclusive development in communities. Mukuru Clean Stoves, with its blend of local manufacturing, job creation for artisans, and environmentally sustainable technology, represents climate action "made in Africa."
Sources:
- Mukuru Clean Stoves
- Mukuru Clean Stoves and Keep IT Cool
- Charlot Magayi
- Roam
- In addition to addressing health issues like malaria and respiratory infections in Kenya, innovative enterprises like Mukuru Clean Stoves (MCS) are also focusing on climate change and environmental sustainability.
- The business realm has seen significant growth in sectors such as health-and-wellness, women's health, and mental health, with Mukuru Clean Stoves being a notable example in the environmental science domain.
- The world of sports and businesses alike are recognizing the importance of corporate social responsibility, as illustrated by Mukuru Clean Stoves' commitment to promoting air quality, fitness-and-exercise, and health in underserved communities.
- The field of science, particularly environmental science, is witnessing a surge of innovation in Africa, with initiatives like Mukuru Clean Stoves, Keep IT Cool, and Roam leading the way in disrupting traditional methods and offering sustainable solutions.
- Fostering healthier communities and protecting the environment is not just an issue for developed nations; African entrepreneurs, like Charlot Magayi and her ventures, are proving that sustainability and inclusive development are achievable even in the context of endemic health issues and climate change.
