Fighting Energy Poverty and Malaria

Mukuru Clean Stoves (MCS)  is a pioneering company dedicated to addressing pressing health and environmental challenges faced by underserved communities. Our mission is to provide base-of-the-pyramid households with reliable cooking assets that not only combat household air pollution, but also serve as a formidable barrier against malaria, thereby improving the well-being of millions of people.

Household Air Pollution & Energy Poverty: 

The issue at the core of our mission is Household Air Pollution (HAP), stemming from the prevalent use of traditional/open fire stoves for cooking. According to a recent United Nations report, the leading cause of carbon emissions in Africa is from traditional cooking methods, with over 950 million households relying on open fires in sub-Saharan Africa alone. In Kenya, 36 million people have their health negatively impacted due to exposure to household air pollution, 84% still rely on harmful solid fuel for cooking, and 18,000 deaths are attributed to HAP every year, a majority of which are women and children. The growing dependency on traditional sources of energy like wood fuel has led to problems such as scarcity of wood, deforestation and competitive land uses. 

Mukuru’s clean cookstoves are designed to increase the thermal efficiency of traditional cooking methods and reduce the amount of fuel required by open fires in order to reduce GHG emissions from cooking. The insulating ceramic center of the stove absorbs the heat from the fuel, allowing food to cook at a faster rate without high amounts of fuel. In so doing, the fuel consumption of households using Mukuru stoves is reduced by 30 to 60%, leading to an estimated 800,000+ tonnes of CO2 avoided since MCS’s founding.

Malaria Incidence: 

Beyond the provision of clean cookstoves, Mukuru is developing a novel product that protects families against the threat of malaria mortality and infection. Studies reveal that between 20 - 25% of all deaths in western Kenya can be attributed to malaria, with up to 28 million Kenyans (70% of the population) at risk. 

Effective treatment of malaria is inaccessible or costly for vulnerable population groups in Kenya, and the coverage of effective prevention is painfully limited, particularly in the Homabay County, a small fishing town on the shores of Lake Victoria, where the highest burden of malaria infections are recorded than almost anywhere else in the country.

In many places, health services are of poor quality, with long waiting times, inaccurate diagnosis, inappropriate prescription and advice, frequent drug stock-outs, and high levels of resistance to the drugs provided. Patients often resort to the unregulated private commercial sector, where treatment may be inappropriate, although access costs may be lower. 

Malaria during pregnancy leads to serious adverse effects on mothers and the fetus, increasing the risk of premature delivery and low birth weight – a leading cause of child mortality.  

It is our mission at Mukuru to continuously over-index on the impact we yield on  the health and wellbeing of our end-users and our past achievements and recent operational developments stand to reflect this mission.

Our Solution: 

In pursuit of an innovative toolset to address the complex challenges in the clean cooking sector, we are embarking on an ambitious endeavor to broaden our operational scope. Our objective centers on the development of dual-purpose fuel innovations, specifically the creation of mosquito-repellent biomass briquettes, to make substantial contributions to the battle against malaria in Africa. While our prior initiatives have substantiated our positive influence on public health by mitigating the incidence of respiratory ailments and curtailing household air pollution, our present undertaking stands as a pioneering climate-resilient strategy for eradicating malaria within the realm of clean cooking.

Our solution revolves around harnessing locally abundant resources to engineer a cost-effective mosquito-repellent fuel that can effectively transform domestic environments into zones inhospitable to mosquitoes, in order to safeguard end-users against the threat of infections and ensuing mortality. 

How it is made: 

Firstly, we start by sourcing agricultural waste from local farmers, such as sugarcane husks, maize (corn) stalks, or cassava stems to formulate the briquette, which serves as the fueling agent used for cooking.  

We then source the raw pyrethrum plant, a natural insecticide derived from the dried flower heads of certain species of Chrysanthemum plants, particularly Chrysanthemum Cinerariifolium. Pyrethrin, the insecticidal property found in the pyrethrum plant, is extracted from this plant. Pyrethrins are neurotoxins that target the nervous systems of mosquitoes, causing paralysis and eventual death upon contact. 

This pyrethrin is then impregnated into the briquette/fuel, rendering the briquette a spatial mosquito repellent and killing agent, that will complement existing mosquito vector control initiatives.

How it works and what it does:

The product  acts  by slow emission of pyrethrin vapors that will repel or kill the mosquitoes, thereby  providing protection against daytime and  evening biting mosquitoes in and around human habitations. The active ingredient, pyrethrin, is a natural mixture of six insecticidal esters, reputed for their low mammalian toxicity, fast action and minimal persistence in the environment. 

This innovative approach represents a departure from traditional vector control methods. While pyrethrins have been successfully impregnated into mosquito coils and burnt to repel or kill mosquitoes, they’ve never been impregnated into fuels used for cooking. Our solution integrates them directly into cooking fuels, offering a holistic approach to vector control while promoting environmental sustainability through a zero-waste production process.

Technology used:

Our technology involves a precise process of infusing agricultural waste-derived biomass briquettes with pyrethrin extract. This integration is achieved through specialized techniques that ensure optimal distribution of the insecticidal compound throughout the briquette matrix.

Target population:

Mukuru’s target market is low-income households across peri-urban and rural communities earning an average of $40 - $100 of monthly income, spending a third of their income on fuel consumption. While the adoption of clean cookstoves has progressed in Kenya, most regions at the base of the socio-economic pyramid still remain outside the scope of targeted markets, amounting to a population of 36 million being largely marginalized within the industry. For Mukuru, instead, these households make up the entirety of our target market. 

Our current customer base is 95% female, ranging in age from 18 - 55, who cook at least three times a day using charcoal or firewood. The location and means of these households does not allow access to other improved cookstoves in the market, which are imported and distributed in urban settings at prices that amount to at least 20% of their monthly incomes,  leaving millions of families with no choice but to persist with unsustainable methods.

Mukuru’s stoves are made using locally sourced recycled metal instead, which greatly reduces production costs and are sold in village markets within rurally remote regions in Kenya, thus ensuring that our product is both affordable and accessible for the communities most vulnerable to household air pollutants and the detriments of high carbon emissions.

Health and Environmental Well-being:

The introduction of Mukuru's novel mosquito-repellent biomass briquettes alongside our improved cookstoves will have profound health and environmental benefits for our target population. Currently, households relying on traditional cooking methods, such as charcoal and firewood, face significant health risks due to indoor air pollution. Smoke from these fuels contains harmful pollutants, leading to respiratory ailments, particularly among women and children who spend considerable time near cooking fires.

By transitioning to our cleaner and more efficient cookstoves fueled by mosquito-repellent biomass briquettes, families will experience a drastic reduction in indoor air pollution. The pyrethrin-infused fuel emits minimal smoke and harmful particulate matter, creating safer and healthier cooking environments that are inhospitable to mosquitoes. This will lead to a decrease in respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia, and contribute to deviations in malaria infections and other vector-related diseases.

Charcoal and firewood consumption contribute to deforestation, soil degradation, and carbon emissions, exacerbating climate change and threatening ecosystems. Mukuru's locally sourced, recycled metal cookstoves and biomass briquettes offer a sustainable alternative that reduces reliance on deforestation and minimizes carbon footprint. 

Economic Empowerment:

Our target population spends a significant portion of their limited income on traditional cooking fuels, exacerbating financial strain and perpetuating the cycle of poverty. By offering mosquito-repellent biomass briquettes at a fraction of the cost of charcoal, we alleviate the financial burden on households, setting loose resources for other essential needs such as food, education, and healthcare.

Furthermore, Mukuru's approach creates economic opportunities within local communities. Our reliance on locally sourced materials and production methods fosters entrepreneurship and job creation, particularly among women and youth. By manufacturing cookstoves and briquettes locally, we stimulate economic growth and promote self-sufficiency.

Our steadfast resolve uniquely positions us to implement and scale our transformative solution within our target population in a manner that is unparalleled. Over the past 7 years, Mukuru Clean Stoves has emerged as the sole cookstove company to effectively penetrate underserved communities, distributing over 420,000 cookstoves and positively impacting the lives of more than 2 million individuals who now enjoy cleaner air in their homes. Our end-users have experienced significant savings in fuel consumption, empowering women and girls to pursue educational and entrepreneurial pursuits, by freeing them from the arduous task of sourcing firewood.

Our sustained success owes much to our commitment to truly understanding our end-users and the various stakeholders within the production-to-distribution ecosystem. These essential players include:

 Local Waste Metal Suppliers: 

They provide the metal waste we recycle to manufacture our stoves. Our partnership with them spans 7 years, ensuring a reliable source of materials.

Local Farmers: 

Integral partners in supplying agricultural waste for our mosquito repellent fuel production, we collaborate closely with them to establish fair procurement practices and promote sustainable agriculture.

Local Women Business Owners: 

These women play a vital role as sales agents and distributors of our products. Having transitioned from customers to our distributors, they possess invaluable insights into our target demographic and continuously contribute to tailoring our stoves to local culinary practices. 

 Local Households: 

As the end-users and beneficiaries of our work, we engage with them to raise awareness about the benefits of our mosquito repellent fuel and cookstoves. We conduct product demonstrations and prioritize user satisfaction to ensure adoption and long-term use to avoid stove stacking. Our stoves are designed with the input of our primary users, the durability and material composition of MCS stoves are thus tailored towards the cuisine and cooking methods of our primary beneficiaries. 

With the production of the mosquito-repellent fuel, Mukuru will be the first stove company in Kenya to locally produce and sell both biofuels and improved cookstoves. Fortunately, Mukuru is already well established in the clean cooking industry and well known among the most impoverished communities of Kenya. Having already built a large customer base over the past seven years, we have a large advantage within Kenya’s biofuel industry, already assured of a consumer base receptive to investing in new cooking technologies. 

Our team lead,  CEO and founder of MCS, has first-hand experience of the adverse impact of inefficient cooking methods. Her personal journey, ignited by her daughter's severe burns from a charcoal open-fire stove at the age of 2, inspired the inception of Mukuru Clean Stoves. Since then, our team has grown to comprise seasoned local professionals, each bringing a wealth of experience and expertise. With backgrounds in engineering, environmental sciences, entomology, and community development, our team possesses a comprehensive skill set uniquely suited to address the challenges at hand. Committed to our vision for sustainable social impact, our collective insights and collaborative spirit empower us to navigate market nuances with agility and implement effective solutions that make a tangible differenc

Mukuru Clean Stoves has emerged as a leader in the clean cooking sector. We recognized the urgent need to tackle household air pollution and its detrimental effects on health, particularly in low-income and rural communities.

Since inception in 2017, we’ve distributed over 420 000 cookstoves to low-income households within the rural counties of Kenya, reaching 2,075,000 users, with each clean cookstove stove making a positive impact on an average household of 5 members (1 stove : 5 people = Reach). Our distribution strategy involved collaborating with local women business owners and leveraging direct sales to ensure the widest possible reach. Throughout this period, our focus on sustainability and affordability has resonated with the communities we serve. Beyond the quantitative impact, our cookstoves have led to tangible improvements in air quality and reduced fuel consumption, allowing families to save $2 per week, and accumulating a total of over $50 million in fuel savings. Our cookstoves have garnered acclaim for their effectiveness in reducing household air pollution and improving health outcomes.

The incidence of severe stove burns among children under 5 has decreased by an impressive 40%, contributing to a safer living environment. Women, benefiting from a 50% reduction in time spent on fuel collection and cooking, have collectively saved an astonishing 100 million hours, enabling them to focus on education and income-generating activities.

Beyond the immediate benefits to individuals, our initiatives have yielded significant environmental advantages. The widespread adoption of our stoves has prevented an estimated 800,000+ tonnes of CO2 emissions, making a substantial contribution to climate action and mitigating the impact of greenhouse gasses. 

In addition thereto, we’ve developed a novel mosquito repellent fuel, which serves as an effective barrier against mosquito-borne diseases, particularly malaria. This innovative solution not only protects communities from infections and mortality, but also addresses energy poverty through its dual-purpose faculties. To this end, we’ve successfully  raised $2 million in co-financing, demonstrating external validation and support for our project's objectives and potential impact. This financial backing strengthens our ability to implement and scale the project effectively.

We’ve constructed a research and production facility, providing the necessary infrastructure for the manufacturing and testing of our mosquito repellent fuel. This facility serves as a hub for innovation, research, and quality control, ensuring the production of high-quality and effective products. We’ve also conducted thorough testing of the mosquito repellent fuel, validating its efficacy and safety. These tests have provided valuable insights into the performance and usability of the product, informing further refinements and optimizations.

Lastly, we’ve gained traction in the market, with positive feedback and interest from stakeholders and potential beneficiaries. This early traction demonstrates the potential demand and acceptance of our mosquito repellent fuel in target communities.

Technical Challenges:

Currently, Mukuru lacks a robust CRM platform capable of extracting accurate, automated data. Our reliance on manual data management via Excel sheets and Word documents not only consumes valuable time but also compromises our ability to attract investments effectively. As Mukuru expands its trade offerings, the importance of a digital repository for capturing empirical data cannot be overemphasized. Such a repository is integral to our efforts to secure substantial investments. Without it, our capacity to advance the transformative initiatives we've undertaken over the past seven years is severely constrained. 

With Solve's assistance, we stand poised to be connected with a proficient team or organization capable of developing this essential infrastructure.  A digital representation of Mukuru's operations will enable us to showcase our operational efficiency, instill confidence in investors, support growth projections, and underscore our customer acquisition and retention strategies.

Financial:

The financial girth of our solution is not lost on us. As such, the monetary backing from Solve will catalyse the following project objectives: 

Meeting Fuel Demand: Solve’s financial support will empower us to produce ample fuel volumes to satisfy the escalating demand within our target regions. By covering expenses related to raw materials procurement, manufacturing processes, and distribution channels, this financing ensures a consistent and reliable supply of our innovative solution to communities in need.

Scaling Up and Expanding into New Markets: With the funding from Solve, we can seamlessly scale up our project and venture into new markets in Kenya beyond Siaya, Kisumu and Vihiga. By penetrating areas like Homabay, Migori, and Kisii, we extend the accessibility of our mosquito-repellent fuel to a broader population vulnerable to mosquito-borne diseases. 

Having distributed over 420,000 cookstoves to low-income households, we've positively impacted the lives of over 2 million people by providing cleaner air in their homes, resulting in fuel savings costs of $50 million—an impressive achievement by any standard. With Solve’s support, we are poised to proliferate the development and dissemination of affordable clean cooking technologies. This will significantly reduce carbon emissions and improve health outcomes

Addressing Market Barriers:

Mukuru is committed to introducing the mosquito-repellent fuel to the American market, with a specific focus on attracting avid campers and outdoor enthusiasts who will purchase the product at a premium. Our strategy involves leveraging this market segment to further offset acquisition costs in our African market, thereby enabling wider accessibility at a reduced price point. Our initial target locations include New York, Missouri, and Colorado.

To achieve this goal effectively, Solve could provide invaluable assistance by deploying a team of seasoned experts familiar with this target market. These experts will assist us in devising optimal strategies for presenting our product to renowned companies such as Patagonia and Marmot, ensuring they recognize the inherent value in distributing our product to our prospective end users. Upon successful penetration of the American market, we anticipate a revenue stream that will facilitate broader access to our product for the most underserved and vulnerable population groups, in Kenya and the wider Sub-Saharan Africa.

While our previous endeavors have demonstrated our positive impact on public health by reducing respiratory ailments and indoor air pollution (HAP) through the utilization of efficient and durable cookstoves made from locally abundant waste metal, the development of our latest innovation, mosquito-repellent fuel, represents a pioneering and climate-resilient strategy in combating malaria within the clean cooking sector—an unprecedented approach.

Our strategy in creating a mosquito-repellent fuel to combat diseases transmitted by mosquito vectors in Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by innovation, novelty, and originality as follows:

Dual-Purpose Fuel Concept: 

Our innovation lies in the integration of a cooking fuel that not only addresses indoor air pollution but also actively repels mosquitoes. Traditionally, interventions have focused on either clean cooking solutions or mosquito control methods separately. By offering a dual-purpose fuel, we provide a comprehensive and integrated solution to both issues simultaneously.

Utilization of Pyrethrin: 

We employ pyrethrin, a potent insecticide derived from the pyrethrum plant, as a core component of our strategy. Pyrethrin is renowned for its effectiveness in repelling mosquitoes and its resilience against resistance.

Collaboration: 

We emphasize close collaboration with farmers to establish a sustainable supply chain for agricultural waste, demonstrating our commitment to local empowerment and community involvement.

Impact on Health and Environment: 

Our approach is holistic, addressing both health and environmental challenges by simultaneously combating household air pollution and mosquito-borne diseases.

Recognizing that fuel availability serves as both a driver and a barrier to the adoption of improved cookstoves, we are motivated by the staggering statistics—a national estimate of 3.5 million new clinical malaria cases and 10,700 deaths each year. We firmly believe that our dual-purpose briquettes will be warmly welcomed as a solution, serving as a catalyst in advancing our goals in fuel innovation and testing. By providing multiple interventions that target deviations in household air pollution and malaria mortality rates, our initiative will alleviate the burden on women and girls, who often bear the brunt of caregiving responsibilities due to illnesses arising from indoor air pollution and malaria. The combination of anti-malarial properties and sustainable production methods amplifies the impact of our efforts in providing efficient, reliable, and affordable cookstoves to low-income households.

KEY ASSUMPTIONS:

The successful adoption of our mosquito-repellent fuel will:

• Reduce HAP whilst simultaneously relieving households from the burden of malaria infections and costs related to their prevention or treatment;

• Be an effective, affordable and sustainable vector control tool;

• Open new revenue stream for the business (leverage the fertility of the market)

• Provide at least 300-500 new green job opportunities to local community (majority women);

• Diversify market portfolio in Africa and overseas:

1. In Africa, fuel  has high adoption propensity in neighboring rural regions on the shores of Lake Victoria such as Entebbe (Uganda) and Nyamiongo (Tanzania) – who just like in Homa-Bay Kenya, share a hyperendemic characteristic.

1. In the US(overseas), fuel will be sold to avid campers and outdoor enthusiasts at a premium via a B2B stream through our US-based Non-Profit chapter that will surrogate product penetration into this market (top of the pyramid demographic) - further underscoring the product’s profile versatility and market viability. Sold at $20 - $30/kg in the US, this market stream will subsidize costs for households at the base of the economic period in Africa, who will purchase the fuel at $0.50/kg, offering families an alternative that is 75% cheaper than charcoal. 

• Boost local economy and benefit agricultural value chains - creating new revenue streams for sugarcane farmers from whom bagasse will be sourced (sugarcane waste used as fuel accelerant);

• Generate substantial knowledge on anti-malarial briquette production, bagasse waste utilization technology, sustainable pyrethrin utilization and policy

Inputs:

• Flexible fundraising - Aim to raise $7 million grant & debt funding during 2023 - 2025 period

Outputs:

• Completion of 300,000 (sq.ft.) Sustainable Energy Campus in Homabay (fast nearing completion)  

• Onboarding technical experts and consultants: -Engineers, Chemists, Entomologists, Vector Control specialists, Impact and M&E experts

• Identifying sugarcane/maize farmers to supply bagasse in the interim 

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Fuel prototype developed and tested, research subjects from simulated model village to have used fuel  for 6 months prior to market entry

• Recurring campaigns and sensitization events to influence behavior change and subsequent uptake of product informed by data

• Publish papers on effective agricultural waste management and it’s positive impacts on the environment (feeding into literature on micro climate change interventions in SSA)

Long-term Outcomes:

• Fuel  satisfies industry requirements endorsed by relevant stakeholders (vector control community in Kenya, CARE, FDA etc) and pronounced fit for use

• Households in Homa-bay prepare food with Mukuru stoves powered by the anti-malarial briquette as a fuel

• Provision of at least 300-500 new jobs for locals (majority women)

• Fuel amass a healthy customer base in US market and sold at a premium ($20-$30/kg)

Impact:

• Significant (very high) deviations in malaria infections and mortality rates reported in Homa-bay Kenya + surrounding rural regions bordering Lake Victoria

• Households report significant savings from health-related costs (malaria infection treatments)

• Fuel sales are a fixed and reliable business revenue stream

• Increased earnings and improved livelihoods for local farmers + their families  

• The US market stream has subsidized fuel acquisition  costs for low income households in Africa who will purchase fuel at $0.50/kg.

Goal 1:   Influence significant  deviations in malaria incidence in Homabay County

Indicator: Total number of malaria cases in households using the mosquito repellant briquettes 

Measurement: We will partner with local dispensaries and hospitals and conduct monthly household surveys before and after households start using our fuels.

Goal 2:     Produce and sell 15 000 tonnes of briquettes in the first year of production

Indicator: Total tonnes of briquettes produced & sold

Measurement - We will monitor the number of mosquito-repellent fuel sold to track the project's penetration and adoption rate

Goal 3:     Reduce household cost of fuel 

Indicator: Household cost of fuel

Measurement: We will conduct household surveys to determine the cost of fuel before and after

Goal 4:    Project to benefit actors along agricultural value chains

Indicator: Revenue recorded for small-holder pyrethrum and sugarcane farmers

Measurement: We will monitor increases in incomes for pyrethrum and sugarcane farmers supplying us. This will be measured by the number of farmers reporting an increase in income.

Goal 5:   Creating Employment and Increasing the number of businesses MCS Partners with (mostly female led)

Indicator:  Revenue recorded for small business owners 

Measurement: We anticipate demand for the briquettes to grow, increasing incomes for our distributing partners who are largely women, already earning from selling our improved cook stoves. This will be measured by the number of businesses added to our distribution network, and the number of new employees hired

Goal 6:    Utilize 1,000,000 tonnes of bagasse in the first year of production

Indicator: Tonnes of bagasse processed into briquettes

Measurement: We will monitor the increase in the amounts of bagasse sold to us and processed into briquettes/fuel

Goal 7:    Avoid 200,000 metric tons of CO2e emissions per year. 

Indicator: Amount of carbon offsets

Measurement: We will utilize sensors to monitor the amount of carbon offsets for charcoal, wood and kerosene, from the use of Mukuru briquettes

Our solution’s core technology involves a precise process of infusing biomass briquettes with pyrethrin extract, for the purposes of rendering domestic cooking zones inhospitable to mosquitoes. This integration is achieved through specialized techniques that ensure optimal distribution of the insecticidal compound throughout the briquette matrix as follows: 

Innovative Integration of Traditional and Modern Technologies:

Our solution combines traditional agricultural practices with modern extraction and manufacturing processes. The utilization  of  agricultural waste as the base material for the briquettes is in concert with our climate-conscious values, demonstrated by the employment of a plant-based solution that reduces the effects of climate change. This integration of ancestral knowledge with modern technology showcases an ingenious blend of tradition and innovation, a hallmark of sustainable development that equally embraces the principles of a circular economy.

 Precision Engineering for Optimal Efficiency:

The process of impregnating the biomass fuels with pyrethrin extract requires precision engineering. This entails meticulous control over factors such as temperature, pressure, and infusion duration to ensure uniform distribution of the insecticidal compound throughout the briquette matrix. This uniformity allows us to maximize the efficacy of pyrethrin, enhancing its ability to repel and eventually  kill mosquitoes, while minimizing wastage of the valuable resource.

 Potential for Scalability and Impact:

The scalability of our technology is another key aspect worth highlighting. Given the ubiquity of agricultural waste in many regions in Sub-Saharan Africa, our solution has the potential to be adapted and replicated in diverse geographical contexts, addressing the shared challenge of mosquito-borne diseases across communities that share the similar levels of endemicity, such as those that characterize Homabay. Furthermore, by offering a cost-effective  alternative to conventional vector-control methods, our solution empowers local communities to take proactive measures against vector-borne diseases, thereby contributing to improved public health outcomes on a global scale.

 Continuous Innovation and Research:

It's essential to emphasize the iterative nature of technological innovation inherent in our solution. As new insights emerge and technological advancements occur, there is ample opportunity for us to refine and enhance the efficacy of our product further. Whether through optimizing the extraction and impregnation process of pyrethrin or exploring alternative sources of natural insecticides, ongoing research and development efforts will be instrumental in advancing the effectiveness and sustainability of our solution over time.

Full- Time paid employees: 107

Part Time paid employees: : 631

We’ve been working on this novel solution for the past 3 years

At Mukuru, fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion is not just a goal but a fundamental aspect of our organizational ethos. We take pride in our status as a women-led, managed, and focused social enterprise, championing the increased representation of women in leadership roles within the clean cooking and energy sector.

Our team composition reflects a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, and skill sets. From young artisans and stove masons who seize job opportunities facilitated by our company's growth, to the robust network of women sales-agents who distribute our stoves to the last mile, we prioritize creating an environment that welcomes people from  varying professional and vocational backgrounds. 

Creating an inclusive environment goes beyond mere representation; it requires cultivating a culture of belonging where every team member feels welcomed, valued, and supported. To achieve this, we have implemented various initiatives, including continuous training and skills enhancement programs to empower our team members to excel in their roles and open forums for dialogue and feedback. We habitually assess our policies and practices to identify areas for improvement

Our business model’s primary revenue stream is derived from the direct sale of improved cookstoves, prospective carbon credits earned from each stove sold and the market for our novel mosquito-repellent fuels. 

Direct Stove Sales:

Through a robust network of local women entrepreneurs, MCS effectively reaches underserved markets in Kenya, impacting approximately 8 million individuals without access to cleaner cooking methods. Our eco-friendly stoves, made from recycled metal, not only contribute to waste reduction and the circular economy but are also priced at $5/unit, a fraction of our competitors' rates.

Having distributed over 420,000 cook stoves to households averaging five members over a seven-year span, Mukuru has generated $4 million in revenue sales, and significantly influenced the health and economic well-being of more than 2 million individuals in Kenya. 

Carbon Credit Sales:

Mukuru endeavors to expand and introduce the distribution of cooking stoves across 3 new markets in East and West Africa. In these regions (Uganda, South Sudan, and Ghana), populations predominantly rely on three-stone firewood stoves, a practice which leads to unsustainable depletion of wood resources, exacerbating land degradation, greenhouse gas emissions, and indoor pollution.

The widespread adoption of our stoves has prevented an estimated 800,000+ tonnes of CO2 emissions, making a substantial contribution to climate action and mitigating the impact of greenhouse gasses.

For low-income households, the cost of switching to energy-efficient stoves is too high, thus in keeping with our commitment to affordability and accessibility, we’ve reduced the price of our stoves from $10 USD to $5 USD, to allow for the revenue generated from carbon credits that are sold at $10 - $15 per credit, with each of our stoves generating 2 credits, to further subsidize acquisition costs for both stoves and fuels,  for low-income households. 

The use of our stoves would help avoid 1 Million tonnes of carbon emissions and save at least 200,000 trees. We anticipate to generate $100 Million in carbon credit sales and create 300 sustainable green jobs within the next 3-5 years.

Mosquito-Repellent Fuels:

Mukuru is poised to earn significant revenue from our innovative dual-purpose fuels that will be sold to two customer clusters: Low-income households in rural Kenya and selected African countries who will purchase it at $0.50/kg, and to a high-income demographic in North America, sold at a premium ($20 - $30) via a B2B stream. This urban market cluster will subsidize acquisition costs for households at the base of the economic period to further guarantee the accessibility and affordability of sustainable energy alternatives in Africa. 

The combination of successful cookstove sales, the promising performance of our mosquito-repellent fuel, and the significant revenue generated from carbon credit sales highlight Mukuru’s positive market position and the effectiveness of our business model.  The total addressable market for our products and services in Africa is an impressive $103.5 billion (Stoves - $1.5 B; Fuels - $2 B; Carbon Credits - $100 B). By 2030, Mukuru is targeting 10 million households - less than 1% of the TAM.

Mukuru’s strategy for achieving financial sustainability encompasses a diversified approach, incorporating the following revenue streams:

Direct Stove Sales:

Central to our revenue model is the distribution of our improved cookstoves, which has consistently generated income for the company over the past seven years. Our aim is to extend this success by reaching an additional 2.5 M households within the next 3 to 5 years, ensuring that 12 million people benefit from improved air quality in their homes.

Carbon Credits:

Transitioning from traditional biomass or polluting fuels to cleaner energy sources and energy-efficient stoves represents one of the most economically viable approaches to reducing carbon emissions. In this context, Mukuru remains steadfast in exploring avenues to capitalize on carbon finance, utilizing carbon credits as a means to offset the expenses associated with stove deployment, thus ensuring affordability and accessibility for low-income households in rural Africa. Moreover, carbon offsets enable us to alter the financing paradigm for cookstove projects, transitioning from reliance on philanthropic grants to attracting additional investment from the private sector. Following successful operations Kenya, Mukuru is poised to scale up and expand into additional countries, unlocking more sustainable carbon revenue.

Mosquito Repellent Fuel:

To further diversify our revenue streams, we have undertaken the development of patent-pending mosquito-repellent biomass fuels. The sales generated from fuel across both market clusters are poised to become a fixed and reliable business revenue stream, contributing to our long-term financial sustainability.