MEET
CHARLOT
MAGAYI
When a traditional cooking stove left her toddler with severe burns, Charlot Magayi turned grief into resolve. From Nairobi’s Mukuru slum, she set out to reinvent the stove, and in doing so, reimagined how families cook and breathe. “What began as my attempt to protect my own child has grown into a mission to protect millions [from pollution,]” she tells TIME.
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.
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.