Smoke Reduction Project Kadibo, Kenya

“Buy a wood stove?” what a joke – why should I pay money - a shallow hole in the ground and three stones is all I need and there – I have a stove!” This is the attitude that energy entrepreneurs have to contend with in selling a variety of cooking stoves. There is no doubt that they are risk takers as several of them are surmounting the obstacles and are making viable commercial businesses in stove sales.

The setting of the project in question is Kadibo division in Nyanza province Kenya. The main source of cooking energy is firewood that is imported from the Rift Valley province and at times from Uganda, these must be bought from the market. As ¼ of household incomes are spent on provision of cooking and lighting energy needs, change and desire for other energy sources and efficient technologies is urgent in this area. IThe level of indoor air pollution is far beyond those recommended by WHO and these presented themselves in all sorts of diseases and deaths amongst women and children.

This case study examines how Solar Cookers International (EA), sought to reduce the levels of indoor smoke by promoting the use of a menu of cleaner cooking technologies, disseminated through commercial strategies to enhance sustainability.

Seedfunding Case study_SMOKE REDUCTION PROJECT - Download