[Stoves] Maxwell Kinyanjui

Laurie Childers childers at peak.org
Tue Jan 31 18:51:12 CST 2012


Hello Stovies,

 

For those who are interested, the pioneering developer of the Kenyan Ceramic
Jiko, Maxwell Kinyanjui, died peacefully on Jan. 24th.

 

Max's creative work with cookstoves started with improving his backyard
barbeque in Nairobi in the early 1980's.  Soon, Energy/Development
International hired him for a big USAID-funded project.   They sent him to
Thailand to learn about the design and manufacture of the "Thai Bucket"
stove.   He brought back ideas and adapted them for Kenyan culture.   His
was the first project to shift from owner-built (or even owner-assisted)
designs, to using traditional ceramic and metal artisans and bring these
skills together for a stove that could be transported and sold in markets.
The KCJ project specifically avoided concentrating manufacture in one large
industry, preferring to jumpstart production in several areas of the
country.   The idea was to not only share the wealth but also use
competition to keep prices down.   Quality control was the constant
challenge, and imitators kept Max busy - he was happy for them to produce
the stove, but only with the fuel-saving specifications.

 

It was my great fortune to work with him in Kenya in 1983.   His endless
enthusiasm for jikos, for artisanal skills, for the challenge of making the
impossible happen, made the impossible happen. He delighted in making
friends with all kinds of people, in stimulating conversation, and planning
new projects.  When the KCJ took off, he concentrated his efforts on wood
and charcoal supply, figuring out how to turn dry wasteland into forests.
I had the great satisfaction to return in 2006, revive the old partnership
for a couple weeks of working vacation, and see the KCJs in stores and homes
literally everywhere - and walk through the cool microclimate of tree farms
and forests that were thriving in the midst of square kms of dry, bare soil
throughout semi-arid southern Kenya.   Few people have made such an impact
on their country.   

 

The gregarious Max avoided publicity because it felt like it wasted his
time.   One article published about him meant weeks of distracting phone
calls, and he had projects to work on!  

 

His son Teddy has inherited the same cheerful vigor and interest in stoves
and trees, so the Kinyanjui legend and work will carry on.  

 

 

 

Laurie Childers

www.lauriechilders.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Peosyo_F2tI

http://forusa.org/blogs/laurie-childers/coming-peace/9996

 

 

"As hard as it is to believe in non-violent co-operative action as a way of
changing the world for the better, it is easier to believe in than that
burning and wrecking and shooting will make things better."   -
doctorpsycho1960  (comment left on the music video)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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