• The charcoal briquettes last more than four times the cooking duration of the ordinary charcoal and are cheap as well.
• The major challenge the group is facing is the high cost of fuel as they use a diesel-powered charcoal briquette machine.
Image: SANIVATION/REUTERS
Salukya Walyuke Self Help Group in Kitui county is turning solid waste into money, thus conserving the environment.
Members use new technology to turn the waste into charcoal briquettes. Salukya Walyuke translates into 'open your eyes for change'.
Group chairperson Sarah Mutuku says they took the initiative to conserve the environment by using locally available waste to make charcoal briquettes and sell them locally. They are 25 members.
She adds that members were equipped with the new technology after training in Nairobi. The training was sponsored by the county government.
After the training, Sarah formed the Salukya Walyuke Self-help group in November 2017. It initially had 12 members whom she trained.
“After getting our group registration certificate from the social services department, we started making the briquettes and selling them for economic gain,” Sarah said.
“The number of members has doubled to 25 to date with improved returns. We are economically doing well and have taken it as our daily work just like any other.”
The group uses charcoal dust waste and pieces of peeled cassava to make the charcoal briquettes. Such waste could have ended up polluting the environment.
She said the charcoal briquettes are environmentally friendly as they do not emit any smoke, unlike ordinary charcoal. Sarah also explained the process of making the briquettes.
“We sort out the waste to remove any unwanted objects such as nails, metals, sticks or bottles, which may be found in charcoal dust as they can break our machines, weigh the charcoal dust in a 90kg bag then sprinkle water to give it moisture,” she said.
After sprinkling water, they then put the cassava waste and start making the briquettes using the machine. Once they are done, they are removed from the machine and kept to dry naturally.
Sarah said the charcoal briquettes last more than four times the cooking duration of the ordinary charcoal and are cheap as well.
The group produces 10 tons of the briquettes per week with a 90kg bag retailing at Sh2500 locally, they also sell a one kg tin at Sh50.
The group makes a huge profit since they spend about Sh400 to make a 90kg bag of charcoal briquettes, which brings them Sh2,100 profit.
Teresia Musili, a group member, said they buy the charcoal from charcoal vendors at Sh150 for a 90kg bag and transport it at a cost to their workshop.
“Selling one kilogramme of briquettes at Sh50 is economical and cheaper than the ordinary charcoal as our one kilogramme of briquettes can go for almost eight hours without getting exhausted,” she said.
The chair encouraged other women, youth, and men to emulate her group and venture into the initiative as it is a capital-generating activity and also conserves the environment.
“Make good use of the waste that is around you because it may be of great help. You can depend on yourself without waiting for assistance from others,” Mutuku said.
The major challenge the group is facing is the high cost of fuel as they use a diesel-powered charcoal briquette machine.
However, the group is working out how to get an electric machine to use to lower the cost of production.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris