Overview

The Kenya Ceramic Project (KCP) began in 2007 as a small student initiative and has since grown into an operational, multi-collaborative non-governmental organization (NGO) under the umbrella organization Innovative Canadians for Change (ICChange). The project focuses on deploying two distinct ceramic technologies—CeraMaji (ceramic water filters) and CeraJiko (high-efficiency ceramic stoves)—to assist vulnerable populations in rural Kenya.

Operating out of a facility in Kenya that features a factory building, raw materials storage shed, and a hammer mill shed, KCP employs a localized production team managed by a production manager and three technicians. The factory possesses a baseline capacity of 400 filters per month, with the potential to scale up to 1,600 filters per month through future investments in a second production line and an additional kiln. The initiative relies heavily on collaborative international efforts, drawing expertise from medical students, volunteers, and academics from institutions like the University of Alberta. KCP sustains its operations through a mixture of private donations, annual fundraisers (such as the Winter Gala and Kenya Run for Water), and critical grants, including a Bill Clinton grant.

The Systemic Problem

The primary crisis KCP addresses is the high prevalence of waterborne illnesses affecting vulnerable rural populations in Kenya. Diarrheal disease stands as the leading cause of death for Kenyan children under the age of five, frequently resulting in fatal complications such as severe dehydration. This health crisis is compounded by a lack of localized sanitation education and limited community awareness regarding waterborne pathogens.

Furthermore, traditional water purification methods and cooking practices present separate systemic challenges. Boiling water over open flames is highly inefficient, consumes excessive fuel, and poses an ongoing safety hazard, as small children are frequently injured by coming into direct contact with open fire pits or hot cooking surfaces.

Outcomes

Through sustained research, community field presence, and technological design, KCP has achieved several distinct outcomes:

• Technological Innovation: KCP collaborated with expert potters and physicists to create the CeraMaji filter, which uses local clay, ground sawdust, and a colloidal silver coating to eliminate over 99% (up to 100%) of coliform bacteria from contaminated water. Additionally, partnering with Dr. Frank Weichman at the University of Alberta led to the CeraJiko stove, which operates with 500% greater efficiency than an open flame while keeping its outer walls cool to prevent child injuries.
• Rigorous Quality Control: The project established a makeshift laboratory near the factory to implement a strict microbiological testing protocol. Water samples are filtered, treated with Membrane Lauryl Sulphate Broth (MSLB), autoclaved at a nearby medical center, and incubated to measure coliform counts. Any filter failing to achieve 100% bacterial removal is discarded or recycled.
• Public Health & Data Collection: KCP adapted a World Health Organization (WHO) health survey—approved by the University of Alberta—to evaluate regional disease burdens, maternal education levels, and community water sanitation practices. These surveys are administered to women’s and widows’ groups before and after filter distribution to monitor long-term compliance and health impacts.
• Geospatial Mapping: Using GPS and ArcGIS software, volunteers map local water sources, clinics, schools, and marketplaces (“dukas”). This visual data tracks the growth of the project and allows KCP to target high-risk areas suffering from disproportionate disease rates.
• Economic Micro-Financing: The project is developing “dukas” as micro-financing opportunities for local Kenyans. Duka owners can sanitize large quantities of water using KCP filters and sell it to families at a reasonable cost, generating local employment while cleaning community water receptacles.