State department for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Principal Secretary Esther Muoria has recognised creativity and innovations exhibited by trainees during the 3rd National Skills Competition held at the Kisumu National Polytechnic.
Dr Muoria encouraged the polytechnic trainees to be industrious within their institutions noting that the technical colleges have promoted the advancement of talent and innovations for the young people.
“Talent and skills exhibition provides a good opportunity for our students to showcase their skills to the world. The skills competition also aligns with industry requirements and standards and it also increases the participants’ employability prospects,” assured the PS.
Gasifier jiko was one of the items showcased during the exhibition event held on Wednesday. It has a combustion chamber that has several holes at the bottom and above which allows the entry of oxygen during combustion.
The invention also has a fan at the bottom which provides oxygen to the combustion chamber that burns the gas which produces carbon monoxide to produce carbon dioxide and a regulator which regulates heat during use.
The jiko uses bagasse – pellets produced from dried and crushed sugarcane waste. The pellets are eco-friendly with a neutral smell that does not affect the surrounding. The pellets are placed in the combustion chamber and it lightens up and burns going down, which makes it efficient to pour out used pallets and save the unused.
The innovation was brought up on the basis of mitigating climate change due to the emission of poisonous gases from other homemade sources of fire and also to reduce the chances of deforestation for firewood use within the community.
According to Mr.Nicholas Agoro, one of the innovators, the Gasifier Jiko has been on tests in Nairobi with the Kenya Research and Development Institute and they are confident that the innovation works to save the environment from environmental pollution.
“The innovation I have been working on will ease the community from the cost of fuel and save a shilling considering families that are not well off also not forgetting to safeguard our environment,” said Mr.Agoro
The Gasifier Jiko is estimated to cost Sh.4500 if it gets a nod to go into the market while the pellets cost Sh.40 per kg retail price.
By Albright Medaline and Yvette Obunga
