MEET
CHARLOT
MAGAYI
JOURNEY
From Adversity to Impact
Charlot Magayi's story begins in Mukuru, one of Nairobi's largest informal settlements, where hardship was a daily reality. Orphaned at just 10 years old, she faced a childhood defined by survival. By 16, she became a mother - a moment that deepened her understanding of the crippling health and financial burdens caused by traditional cooking methods.
A life-altering moment came when her daughter suffered severe burns from a traditional stove - a devastating experience that made the dangers of unsafe cooking impossible to ignore. Magayi knew something had to change.
In 2017, she founded Mukuru Clean Stoves (MCS) with one bold mission: to eliminate household air pollution and energy poverty across underserved African communities.
In 2017, she founded Mukuru Clean Stoves (MCS) with one bold mission: to eliminate household air pollution and energy poverty across underserved African communities.
JOURNEY
The Dreams Powering Change
Today, with over 600,000 clean cookstoves in use, Mukuru Clean Stoves (MCS) is at the forefront of Africa’s clean energy revolution. But these are more than just stoves—they are life-saving tools, crafted with care, engineered for impact, and driven by innovation.
Built from recycled metal and optimized for efficiency, MCS cookstoves are transforming energy access: cutting fuel use, easing financial pressure on low-income families, reducing toxic smoke emissions by 50–90%, improving indoor air quality, lowering health risks for women and children, and generating sustainable jobs through a women- and youth-led supply chain.
Under Charlot’s leadership, MCS has also pioneered the world’s first mosquito-repellent fuel, patented in the United States—a groundbreaking solution that fights malaria and energy poverty in one powerful innovation.
JOURNEY
Driving Africa's Clean Energy Future
Charlot dares to dream. She envisions a future where Africa leads the way—not with smoke, but with innovation, impact, and inclusion. Through Mukuru Clean Stoves, she is driving more than clean energy access—the organization is a symbol of hope, a catalyst for economic empowerment, and a beacon of environmental justice.
She also dreams of a future where teenage girls and youth growing up in urban slums and poverty-stricken rural areas have the chance to learn, pursue their aspirations, and break cycles of inequality. Through the Chance Libraries & Scholarships Foundation, she is bridging these communities to opportunities that can transform lives.
For Charlot, every step—whether small or bold—is a vital stone in building the foundation for her audacious dreams.
Impact
Patented Innovation
Charlot invented a malaria-fighting briquette made from recycled waste materials. The briquette not only provides a cleaner, safer source of household energy but also releases natural mosquito-repelling properties when burned. This addresses both public health by reducing malaria transmission and environmental sustainability by cutting reliance on traditional fuels.
1M+ tonnes of CO₂ eliminated
She has established factories that manufacture and distribute affordable clean cookstoves in rural Africa. These stoves replace traditional firewood cooking and burn better, reducing indoor air pollution and deforestation. By enabling households to shift to cleaner energy, her work has reduced harmful smoke exposure for women and children while cutting an estimated 1M+ tonnes of CO₂ emissions, contributing to both healthier communities and climate change mitigation
Chance Libraries & Scholarships
She is creating libraries in rural communities where access to books and learning resources is scarce. These libraries serve as safe learning spaces that empower young people with knowledge and digital skills. In addition, she provides scholarships to bright but underserved teenage girls, ensuring they can pursue secondary education despite financial hardship. This investment in education not only transforms individual lives but also fosters long-term community development and gender equity.