Kenyan Woman Behind Unique Cooking Stove Wins Ksh150 Million

Photo collage between Mukuru Clean stove and Charlot Magayi
Photo collage between Mukuru Clean stove and Charlot Magayi.
Earthshot

Charlot Magayi, the founder of Mukuru Clean Stoves, won Ksh150 million in the Earth shot competition.

Magayi was among the five winners unveiled by Prince William on Friday, December 2, at an awards ceremony in Boston in the US.

Prince William created the annual awards to provide funding and support to entrepreneurs in a bid to save the planet.

"I believe that the Earthshot solutions you have seen this evening prove we can overcome our planet's greatest challenges," Prince William stated.

Charlot Magayi, founder and CEO of Mukuru Clean Stoves
Charlot Magayi, founder and CEO of Mukuru Clean Stoves.
Photo
Earthshot

"By supporting and scaling them, we can change our future," he added while addressing guests, including British former footballer David Beckham.

Magayi was among the finalists awarded Ksh150 million (£1 million prize) each at the second annual Earth shot Prize awards ceremony.

Speaking after receiving the recognition, Magayi stated that 200,000 households in Kenya have had access to her product since she launched the business in 2017.

"The Earthshot Prize is going to help us reach one million households," she stated.

Why She Started Mukuru Clean Stoves

Magayi started Mukuru Clean Stoves in 2017 after her daughter was severely burnt by a charcoal-burning stove.

Her early life in Mukuru Kwa Njenga slum in Nairobi, where she sold charcoal, also inspired her to start the venture supporting clean energy use

"Rather than burning dangerous solid fuels, Mukuru Clean Stoves use processed biomass made from charcoal, wood and sugarcane," Earth shot described Mukuru Clean Stoves.

 "This burns cleaner, creating 90 per cent less pollution than an open fire and 70 percent less than a traditional cookstove," the organisation inspired by US President John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot challenge in the 1960s added.

However, Magayi indicated she wanted to create an even cleaner stove that burns ethanol. She also hopes to reach one million people in different parts of the country while at the same time empowering the younger generation.

Mukuru Clean Stove inside a hut used for cooking
Mukuru Clean Stove inside a hut used for cooking.
Earthshot
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