Grace Kasera: The Kisumu grandmother building affordable electric cookers
When Grace Kasera left her job in the NGO sector, many people saw it as a risky decision. Walking away from stable employment after years of professional work seemed like a step backwards to some. But for Kasera, the move was driven by family, purpose and a strong vision to change how ordinary households cook.
A graduate of Kenyatta University, where she earned a Bachelor of Education Science in 1985, Kasera began her career as a teacher at Kisumu Polytechnic. Her professional journey later shifted when she joined a non-governmental organisation and worked in refugee camps as an education supervisor.
After returning to Kisumu, she became involved in her family's electrical business, Nyangweso Electric Coils. That experience sparked her growing interest in electrical innovation and fabrication.
Training that sparked a new path
Determined to deepen her technical skills, Kasera enrolled at the National Industrial Training Authority to study electrical engineering. The decision marked the beginning of her hands-on journey into fabrication.
Her curiosity led to a breakthrough when she discovered a way to modify a standard 1,800-watt coil so it could consume far less electricity without compromising performance — an innovation that now defines her products.
Building affordable energy-efficient cookers
Working from her workshop in Kisumu, Kasera now fabricates four types of energy-efficient electric cookers designed with affordability, safety and efficiency in mind. All models are engineered to work safely with standard household sockets.
Her product range includes:
- A stool-type cooker retailing at Sh2,800
- A box-type automatic cooker at Sh3,800
- A box cooker with a switch costing Sh4,500–Sh5,000
- A double box-type cooker priced at Sh7,800
Kasera carefully selects durable materials including metal plates, aluminium tops and heat-resistant electrical cables, with some models fitted with switches depending on customer needs.
Growing customer trust over 18 years
Over the past 18 years, Kasera has built a loyal customer base that includes teachers, doctors, police officers, students and nurses.
She attributes the popularity of her cookers to energy efficiency and ease of maintenance, noting that many imported alternatives are expensive and difficult to repair locally.
Advocating for technical skills and local manufacturing
Kasera credits her science background for shaping her technical journey and now strongly advocates vocational training as a solution to youth unemployment.
She has employed several young people in her workshop, training them in metal work, welding and assembly, and encourages others not to give up.
Now 66, Kasera hopes to expand production and reach more households. She says customers have reported major savings on electricity, with some households cooking hard cereals using tokens worth about Sh50, while others have reduced monthly cooking costs from roughly Sh3,000 on charcoal to about Sh800 using her cookers.
Kasera is now calling on Kenyans to support locally manufactured products, saying they are built to meet local needs and are easier to maintain.
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