How to build, Use and Maintain A Better Bonfire Kiln
Moses Agumba and Vivienne Abbott
Intermediate Technology Kenya 1996
Intermediate Technology Kenya
P. O. Box 39493
Nairobi
Kenya
© Intermediate Technology Kenya 1996
Cover photo: A member of the Keyo Womens Group at Kisumu adds fuelwood into the firebox.
ISBN 9966-9606-1-9
This manual was produced with assistance from the Overseas Development Agency – Joint Funding
Scheme (ODA-JFS) and Charity Projects of the UK
Illustrations by Debbie Riviere, UK
Cover photo by Heinz Muller.
Originally printed by Africa Church Information Service, Nairobi
Contents
Acknowledgements
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Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Kiln Description
Chapter 3 Kiln Construction
Chapter 4 Building the Kiln
Chapter 5 Using the Kiln
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting
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7
8
10
18
22
Glossary
Further Reading
24
24
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Pete Young for the work he did on the Kiln Research Project from 1992 until
the 'Better Bonfire Kiln' was launched. The project team included women groups that participated in the
testing of five different types of kilns. They include the Wise Women Group, Ichingo Women Group, and The
Keyo Women Group to name just a few. We thank the GTZ Special Energy Programme and the Ministry of
Energy for their contribution in the process of development of the kiln. Special thanks to James Mureithi of
the Ministry of Energy for his contribution and comments.
We thank the IT communications team of Betty Rabar and Mariam Kundu for the editing and layout of this
manual. Thanks also to Lydia Muchiri, Rose Akinyi, Hellen Owalla and Stephen Gitonga for their
contributions.
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