Five Kenyan manufacturers are seeking a combined Sh5.6 billion ($43 million) to accelerate the shift away from firewood and charcoal in institutional and household kitchens across East Africa.
The fundraising targets break down as follows:
BURN Manufacturing is pursuing Sh1.3 billion ($10 million), Ignis Innovations and Faith Engineering are each targeting Sh1.95 billion ($15 million), Feion is seeking Sh260 million ($2 million), and Eco Bora is aiming for Sh130 million ($1 million). Each company is at a different stage, from seed capital to late-stage growth financing — and is engaging international backers to fund production capacity and product expansion.
| Company | Product | Raise (USD) | Raise (KES) | Stage | Investment type | Key metric | 2030 target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BURN Manufacturing | ECOA Pro cookstove | $10m | Sh1.3B | Late-stage growth | Carbon project finance | 64–72% fuel reduction; 7–8 mo ROI | Market leader, industrial fuels |
| IGNIS Innovations | Steam cooking system | $15m | Sh1.95B | Growth capital | Senior debt & concessional | 85–90% thermal efficiency; 83% PM₂.₅ cut | 1,500+ institutions |
| Faith Engineering | Meko Steam Cooking System | $15m | Sh1.95B | Growth capital | Equity, debt | 80% wood efficiency; 93% LPG; 75% fuel cut | 9,000 schools + 100 prisons |
| Feion Green Ventures | Jiko-Kul EPC | $2m | Sh260m | Seed capital | Equity, debt | 70% fuel cost cut; 75% faster cooking | 2,500+ institutions |
| Eco Bora | Clean cooking solution | $1m | Sh130m | Seed capital | Not disclosed | Early stage | Not disclosed |
The momentum reflects a real shift in purchasing behaviour. Households and institutions across Kenya increasingly weigh the true cost of cooking — fuel bills, health risks from smoke, and the time spent sourcing firewood. That calculation is changing buying decisions and drawing investor attention. Manufacturers are responding not just with cleaner stoves, but with bundled models that combine hardware, fuel access, and financing under one arrangement.
The broader investment picture reinforces the trend. Kenya attracted Sh126 billion in startup funding in 2025, surpassing Egypt, South Africa, and Nigeria by total inflows.
Energy companies including d.light, Sun King, M-KOPA, PowerGen, and BURN captured a meaningful share of that activity, a sign that clean energy infrastructure in Kenya has moved from a niche bet to a central part of the country’s investment story.
