Kenya Jiko“One of the most successfully improved

cook stove in modern times…”By Diana Jorge

http://kenyacharcoal.blogspot.com/2009/09/kinyanjui-jikos-wholesale-shop.html

History of the Jiko……………………………. 1

How Does it Work?............................. 2-3

How to use it…………………………………… 4-5

How has it helped us?....................... 6-7

Where can it be found?.................... 8-10

Advantages & Disadvantages…………... 11

Bibliographies………………………………….. 12

Table of Contents:

History of Kenya Jiko

It has been a combination of both local and international involvement in developing the Kenya Ceramic Jiko (KCJ). Since 1982, the Kenya Energy & Environment Organization (KENGO) has organized and promoted the use of the KCJ. A number of foundations; CARE, UNICEF, U.S (USAID), German aid (GTZ), Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) all participated in the evolution of the KCJ. By the mid 80’s, the KCJ had been designed (inspired by a trip to examine the Thai bucket stove), many local ceramicists and metal workers had been trained to make them and that’s when they started the successful business and started exporting it to other countries.

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How does the KCJ work?

The advantage of the KCJ in terms of science is that it is designed and fabricated in such a way that allows it to conserve the heat being produced within it for a lot more time than a standard open-fire. Being ceramic, it is a good insulator. The KCJ works with heat transfer through conduction. The fire is lit at the bottom of the KCJ and the fire heats up the coals with physical contact with conduction. The coals then get very hot and since the ceramic substance is a insulator, it traps the heat in the KCJ. You then place your pot on top which is then also heated by conduction because it is touching the flames from the fire. The molecules are getting heated up and are creating kinetic energy which causes them to move very fast resulting in heat. The ash from the coals then falls to the bottom and can be cleaned. If the stove isn’t directly touching the fire because of a small support, then the heat is transferred through convection because hot air rises.

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http://www.onsitereview.ca/storage/BP18-JikoCon.gif?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1256932639890

http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/paper/tech101/fig3.gif

If you are looking for an easy, simple and portable cooking device, then the KCJ is the right one for you because simplicity is what it does. In order to put the KCJ to use, all you need basically is a handful or so of charcoal and a fire source. You start off by placing your handful of charcoal in the KCJ and light the fire either with a match or a lighter. Let the charcoal first heat up a little bit as the flame transmits heat through conduction. Then place your pot of food on top of the KCJ and it will be cooked. The heat is trapped inside but there are still air holes for the air to go through. After using the KCJ to cook say: a pot of rice, there is still enough heat trapped in the KCJ and that is what makes it so efficient. So while you are at it you can just go ahead and fry up some beef or boil some vegetables. You don’t always have to cook things, you could also just warm up stored food! The cooking time using the Jiko may be less due to more heat but still remember to keep a close watch on your Jiko!

How to use the device….

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Simple diagram of KCJ in use:

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= Fire = Kenya Jiko

= Charcoal= Air Holes

In terms of how effective the Jiko is, I could give you an entire page on how effective it is. The Jiko was designed in such a way that it would solve the following problems from the traditional stove identified in Africa in the world today:• It takes too much time to collect firewood• It keeps people from finding satisfied jobs• It uses up too much wood and trees• Pollutes the environment with smoke• Leads to global warming• Many children get burnt from open fires

By inventing the Jiko, it has provided people with jobs like installing the Jiko in a household, it requires people to make it, since the cooking time is less, people have more time then to do other things such as sewing which they can sell. People with low income can also grow crops and sell those too. By inventing the Jiko, it has reduced a lot of the problems mentioned above. They haven’t come to an absolute end, but hey have been and are still being reduced.

How has the KCJ helped us?

The Jiko can be used literally anywhere!!!!

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The Kenya Ceramic Jiko is now mostly found in Africa which is the place its most needed in. The origin is Kenya, and in Kenya they sell the Jiko in the local marketplace as well as Chardust Ltd. In Nairobi.

It is also sold here in Maputo. There is a factory called IFEMA which makes ceramics and they also make something very similar to the Jikos only they are not called Jikos, they are called Poca. Short for “Poca Carvao” which means “less/little charcoal”. This factory is on the “Avenida da OUA” it’s near the “Matadoro”. At the most, the price of it is about 300 meticais but not much more than that. The price in dollars is about 8 dollars. No more than 8-10 dollars usually. But of course it depends on the design or size of the Jiko. The Jiko has been used already in more than 30 other countries. Including some of the following: Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Ethiopia, Sudan, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, and Senegal and is being introduced to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Mozambique, and Madagascar.

Where can it be found?

More on IFEMA

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IFEMA has recently started making the Poca. Joao Carlos, the owner of the factory stated that the production of the Poca all started when he was on a trip in South Africa visiting the stove factories. He had spotted something very similar to the Jiko.

He asked the factory if he could buy one. So he bought one and took it back to his factory and just by luck they had the special machinery to make it. At first it kept exploding when in use because the material wasn’t right but after months of looking for the right material he finally succeeded. It has been a huge success in his factory. Recently he has received an order of 200,000 of these stoves. The costs are reasonable and still continue to be great for low income families.

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Advantages: Disadvantages: - Uses 50% less fuel

(firewood/charcoal)- Has provided new jobs

for plenty- Helps the economy- Very affordable for low

income families- Costs at the most of 10

U.S.D- Can be used anywhere- Cooking time is less

and this allows people to do other things while watching their food cook.

- Reduces fuel by 50%

- Still requires fuel (charcoals)

- Still releases smoke which pollutes the environment

- Reduces but still releases co2 emissions

- The fire from the stove can still harm children

- While cooking using the jiko, you must be attentive

The Kenya Ceramic Jiko may not be the best ultimate stove in the entire world, but it’s one of the few stoves that reduces the chances of

affecting the environment. So let’s take advantage of this and use the Jiko as a way to

help save the environment!

Pros? Cons?

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Bibliographies:• "Cook Stove." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Mar.

2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cook_stove#Kenya_Ceramic_Jiko>.

• Kammen D.M. "The Kenya Ceramic Jiko." The Kenya Ceramic Jiko. HORIZON Solutions, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.solutions-site.org/kids/stories/KScat2_sol60.htm>.

• "Bio-fuel Based Cooker." Personal.psdu.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.personal.psu.edu%2Fbcf5043%2Fsummary%2520and%2520conclusions.html>.

• "Kenyan Household Cookstove." Relwa.org. USAID Winrock International, Dec. 2011. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. <http://www.relwa.org/sites/default/files/Kenya-Stoves-Assessment-web.pdf>.• Joao Carlos. "Kenya Jiko." Personal interview. 28 Mar. 2014.