SOF-DI’s Jiko Project

(In cooperation with the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ)) Two jikos

“Jiko” is an African word for the traditional cooker.
A special type of jiko, which constitutes an improved cooking system, was developed by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) (www.gtz.de). Firewood is very scarce and its collection is time-consuming, stealing time that could be used for more productive work. The new design addresses these dual problems, reducing the amount of firewood or biomass required to cook by using available energy more efficiently.


Contrary to traditional stoves, jiko’s are:  Traditional fireplace

• Energy-saving: jikos require 50% less firewood (firewood is scarce)
• Healthier: as there is little smoke produced when cooking, fewer respiratory illnesses occur, especially to vulnerable children
• Safer: fewer incidents of burns
• User-optimized for women: as traditionally the time-consuming collection of firewood is the duty of women and girls

To date SOF-DI has installed two jikos in each of about 300 households. Our aim is to offer training to selected farmers in order to become qualified jiko manufacturers.

Why two jikos?

• Traditionally, Kenyan families use two stoves for cooking
• If the families were provided with only one jiko, they would simply add another old-style, less efficient one.