By Ajong Mbapndah L
When Charlot’s two-year-old daughter suffered a severe burn caused by a traditional stove, Charlot was moved to provide safer cooking technologies. She founded Mukuru to help keep children safe, as well as reduce fuel consumption and household air pollution. Charlot is an Echoing Green Fellow and has been recognized by Global Citizen, World Bank and AWIEF.
“There’s a renewed sense of passion and commitment to the vision of Mukuru Clean Stoves – from the management team to the artisans, field officers, and sales agents,” says Charlot Magayi on the early benefits of her ABH 2021 exploits
Last year’s ABH winner was a lady from Kenya, this year, there are two Kenyans in the top ten, what is your country doing right to bring out the creative genius making people like you to excel?
I believe the startup ecosystem in Kenya is quite accommodating for female entrepreneurs right now, and with investors, both in the continent and internationally interested in gender lens investing, the playing field is beginning to feel a little bit more levelled for us.
What are some of the major lessons you have learned from the ABH initiative?
There is a lot of innovation coming out of Africa and we do not need to look outside the continent to solve African problems.
Are there any positive trends you have noticed at Mukuru Clean Stoves as a result of your experiences and exposure from the ABH competition?
Yes please. There’s a renewed sense of passion and commitment to the vision of Mukuru Clean Stoves – from the management team to the artisans, field officers, and sales agents.
Where do you see Mukuru in the medium and long term?
Medium term, distributing 500,000 cookstoves, impacting 2.5 million lives, creating 300 jobs, and saving families over $50 million in fuel consumption costs.
Long term, manufacturing ethanol stoves, producing ethanol locally and distributing both products in Africa and Asia.
Any message to the sponsors and management of the ABH prize competition and others out there who have the potential to help young Africans live their dreams?
My immense gratitude for investing in the future of Africa.
