Enterprise

Man turns firewood stoves into money spinners

jikos

Mr Lawrence Kamoni demonstrates how to use his jikos. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NMG

Back in 2008 when Lawrence Kamoni came across an advert in the local dailies offering training on how to build fuel efficient stoves, he did not hesitate.

He took up the challenge and started the one-week training with 39 other youths who he was asked to mobilise. GIZ, previously known as GT–Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale ZusammenarbeitZ, is a German company that was conducting the training in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and the National Environment Management Authority (Nema).

They were taught how to build firewood stoves that are fuel efficient in a week, a technology that would soon see the death of the traditional three stones commonly used in rural Kenya in cooking.

His experience in masonry came in handy as it was a related trade.

Mr Kamoni has now practised the skill for close to 10 years, traversing the country as demand for the stoves builds up. “Some trainees dropped off but I kept on marketing my skills to my local church members and even offering to do demos,’’ said Mr Kamoni.”

The idea is to save the environment by getting more people to use the stoves through the use of less firewood, his mission is to help his clients to use at least two pieces of firewood to cook a meal.

Mr Kamoni, or Miti Mbili (two pieces of firewood) as many now refer to him, said the business has become his main source of income, earning him more than Sh2 million since he began the venture. He markets his services through district agricultural offices where he holds frequent training classes and awareness sessions.

“More people are aware of these stoves which can be built indoors as well as outdoors, under a shade, as they save 50 to 60 per cent of household firewood,” he said.

Mr Kamoni uses fire bricks, fire-proof cement and sand to build the stoves which are then smoothed to create a firm work-top.

His clients include schools and colleges, churches and households in rural and urban areas.

Jiko Kisasa is a one burner jiko for domestic use while the Rocket Stove is meant for institutions.

They cost Sh8,000 and Sh40,000 respectively. The price includes labour, building materials and installation.

The Rocket grill meat stove is priced at Sh50,000, while baking ovens are sold at Sh70,000 each and water heaters Sh40,000 each.
The cost depends on the size of the stoves.

Mr Kamoni has trained six people who work with him on a casual basis. Typically, building a stove takes a day but one should start using it after seven days.

“These stoves last long, they have a life span of eight years depending on the frequency of use and how well one handles them,” said Mr Kamoni.

They also reduce smoke by 80 per cent compared to the traditional three stones stove and have no naked flames making them safe to use.
GIZ taps his services to train others in different parts of the country, he has since trained about 70 groups of people.