Earthly Collaborations

Founded on August 3rd, 2017, Mukuru Clean Stoves has made remarkable strides in transforming the lives of millions. Leveraging a network of local women business owners, micro-financing organizations, and community women groups, MCS has deeply integrated into the local economy, focusing on underserved peri-urban and rural regions in Kenya. These areas, home to nearly 40 million people, are often overlooked by other clean cooking initiatives.
 
The absence of clean cooking solutions forces households to spend an average of five hours daily on fuel collection and cooking, a burden that disproportionately impacts women and girls, restricting their access to education and income-generating activities. This, in turn, perpetuates poverty and limits their financial independence. Furthermore, household air pollution, mainly from cooking smoke, causes approximately 3.2 million premature deaths annually, with women and children being the most affected.
 
Mukuru targets low-income households in peri-urban and rural communities, where monthly incomes range from $40 to $100. The current customer base is 95% female, aged 18-55, who cook at least three times daily using charcoal or firewood, for households averaging five members. These households, due to their economic constraints and remote locations, cannot access other improved cookstoves, which are often imported and sold in urban areas at prices amounting to at least 20% of their monthly income.
 
Since its inception, Mukuru Clean Stoves has sold over 430,000 clean cookstoves in Kenya, saving families over $50 million in fuel costs and positively impacting the lives of more than 2 million people by providing cleaner air in their homes. This has also led to a reduction of nearly 900,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The incidence of severe stove burns among children under five has decreased by an impressive 40%, contributing to safer home environments. Additionally, women have collectively saved 100 million hours by reducing the time spent on fuel collection and cooking, allowing them to pursue education and income-generating activities.
 
Mukuru Clean Stoves has also developed a groundbreaking mosquito-repellent fuel made from agricultural waste. This innovative product not only transforms domestic environments into zones inhospitable to mosquitoes but also promotes sustainable waste management practices, contributing to environmental conservation.