Special clay pots are tackling a key challenge in poultry farming, revolutionizing productivity in Makueni County, Kenya. Inside her expansive chicken enterprise near Wote town, Anna Ndunda confidently monitors her brooder, where hundreds of chicks thrive without losses. Ms. Ndunda is among farmers who have embraced traditional clay brooding pots to protect chicks from extreme weather conditions like the cold months of June and July. These pots, hailed as the ultimate “mother hen,” provide consistent warmth, preventing conditions such as pneumonia. Filled with sawdust or charcoal and lit below a perforated region, the pots radiate slow, sustained heat while minimizing the risk of injuries due to clay’s poor heat conductivity. Oxygen flow into the pot is regulated through perforations, extending burning time and maintaining warmth for longer durations. This ingenuity originates from Mbooni’s Tulimani ward, a pottery hub where artisans, led by innovators like Joyce Mutuku, transitioned from making traditional cooking pots to brooding pots. The clay pots, sold for Sh400 to Sh800, have revived the pottery industry while addressing poultry farmers’ needs.
The process begins with sourcing special clay from nearby forests, a resource made accessible under conservation agreements with the Kenya Forest Service. Impurities are removed, and the clay is kneaded before being molded using potter’s wheels and roasted in kilns. These methods, rooted in tradition, now align with modern clean energy movements. Kyeni kya Kitooni, a potters’ group in Kitoo Village, exemplifies this progress. The group produces clay liners for energy-efficient stoves alongside brooding pots. Their improved stoves, which conserve energy and reduce wood usage, have fostered sustainable practices in the region. “We only use tree branches for cooking, preserving our neighborhood’s greenery,” says Elizabeth Wavinya, a potter.
Non-governmental organizations championing clean energy have amplified the group’s reach, generating demand across counties like Kitui, Kajiado, Machakos, and Tharaka Nithi. These stoves, lauded for enhancing indoor air quality and reducing respiratory diseases, align with global environmental conservation goals. Dr. Matheus Kauti of South Eastern Kenya University emphasizes their efficiency due to clay’s heat retention properties, which enable faster cooking while reducing fuel consumption. Makueni County’s administration, under Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior, has further boosted clean energy adoption by training groups and linking them to affordable credit facilities, thereby expanding production capacities. Clean energy champions have also identified brooding pots as a renewable energy innovation with significant potential.
For Ms. Ndunda, brooding pots have transformed her poultry business. Unlike unreliable brooding bulbs prone to blackouts, the pots ensure her chicks survive cold nights, maintaining a near 100% survival rate. “Filling the pot with charcoal and sawdust keeps it warm until 10 a.m. the next day,” she explains, attributing her peace of mind and success as a top distributor of hybrid chicks and eggs to the technology. This convergence of traditional pottery and modern needs highlights a sustainable, low-cost solution, proving that innovation can arise from cultural heritage while addressing current challenges in agriculture and energy conservation.
