Chapter One
Introduction
Household energy activities in East Africa have mainly concentrated on the promotion and
dissemination of clay-lined fired stoves and mud stoves which target both rural and urban areas.
Improved all-metal stoves are promoted but are not as common as the other two technologies.
Figure 1.1 A ceramic stove
Figure 1.2 A mud stove
Figure 1.3 A metal stove
Experience from many parts of the world has shown that stove technologies have ‘niche’ regions and
communities. How appropriate a technology is, is determined by the rate at which communities take it
up and continue to use it. It clearly depends on communities’ energy needs and situations.
Different stove technologies have been described as either being inappropriate or
appr9opriate by communities in specific parts of the region, depending on social and economic
circumstances. In the promotion and acceptance of stove technologies, issues such as how
accessible, how affordable and how easy the stove is to use, are important. Continued promotion of a
stove technology hat has proved inappropriate to a community only leads to stagnation of acceptance.
One sure solution to this is to give people technology options and a variety of stoves.
History of mud stoves in East Africa
Mud stoves are the oldest improved stove technologies in East Africa. The other technology that was
developed to improve on fires is the trench-fire system. Improvement of fires and stoves in the region
was practised by communities living in areas where firewood was scarce. The basic principle common
to mud stoves and trench fires is the shielding of the fire against draughts. Cow dung missed with mud
was the most common material used for shielding fires.
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