Kencoco Limited

Charcoal briquettes from coconut waste
e_sponsors
2017 SAG-SEED Awards; SWITCH-Africa Green
Sector
Clean Energy
e_city
Mombasa
e_country
Kenya

Kencoco improves cooking in rural Kenya. In addition to selling clean cook stoves, the enterprise produces charcoal briquettes made from coconut shells and husks. Compared to wood charcoal, the briquettes have a similar price, but higher heat intensity and a longer burning time, saving households money.

The enterprise’s products are sold directly to households and to retailers. Along the value chain, mainly women gain opportunities as suppliers of raw materials and sellers of charcoal briquettes in kiosks and markets. 

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
By using coconut husks as a substitute for wood, the briquettes reduce carbon emissions and deforestation and household spending on cooking, while generating alternative income opportunities.
  • Improving health conditions by reducing black smoke from cooking for 8,000 households so far.
  • Training women on carbonising agricultural waste to act as suppliers to Kencoco, so far 30 women groups have been trained.

 

  • Limiting deforestation that results from cutting forests for firewood.
  • Reducing carbon emissions and black smoke from traditional cookstoves and charcoal.
  • Preventing the burning of coconut husks by turning them into a valuable resource.
  • Creating a market for coconut husks, which is currently a waste product; so far 25 women groups supply coconut husk to Kencoco.
  • Decreasing household spending on cooking by 50 % by providing an energy-intensive and long-burning product.

Partners

Kencoco produces and sells charcoal briquettes from recycled agricultural coconut waste, charcoal dust and resells clean cook stoves. The products are a viable low-cost alternative to environmentally damaging fuels such as firewood, kerosene and wood charcoal.

Kencoco Limited produces the charcoal briquettes made from coconut husks.

Najmaz Enterprises is the main distribution partner of Kencoco products, allowing Kencoco to focus on production.

Micro Enterprise Support Trust (MESPT) works with Kencoco in the creation of employment and poverty alleviation in the community by providing financial and non-financial services.

Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (GACC) supports with business development and knowledge about the market and technologies.