Tonza Energy — Clean Cooking, Brighter Futures

The Crisis

Why It Matters

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, 900 million people still rely on dirty fuels like charcoal and firewood.

For street food vendors, this means daily exposure to toxic smoke, unpredictable charcoal prices, and shrinking profit margins.

The problem isn't just local — smoky stoves cost Africa an estimated $791 billion annually in lost productivity, medical bills, and climate damage.

Every vendor working in these conditions breathes in the equivalent of two packs of cigarettes a day.

In Nairobi's bustling informal economy, street vending feeds millions — but the people cooking those meals are getting sick while barely breaking even.

Tonza believes energy transition must start here — where livelihoods and the planet intersect.

For Our Vendors

Smart business. Clean cooking. Brighter days.

Running your "smokie" business shouldn't mean coughing through every sale or wasting half your profit on fuel. Tonza helps you earn more, breathe easier, and work with dignity.

More Money in Your Pocket

Save up to 9,000 KES a month by cutting your charcoal costs.

Better Health

No more "Chef's Cough." Clean cooking means no smoke, no soot, no tears.

Work Longer, Sell More

Solar lights keep you open after sunset — brighter stalls, more customers.

Powered for Growth

Each cart is mobile, low-maintenance, and built for urban streets.

Set up anywhere with a mobile cart designed for Nairobi streets: fast to start, easy to move, and simple to maintain.

Apply for the Tonza Cart Program

The Tech

Your Business‑in‑a‑Box: Designed for the Hustle

Each Tonza Cart is a compact, self-contained business powered by clean technology — giving vendors the freedom to cook anywhere, anytime.

Eco-clean Cooker

Fast, smokeless heat that saves time and fuel money.

Solar Umbrella

Powers lighting and phone charging for safer night vending.

Built-in Cooler Box

Keeps food fresh, reduces spoilage, and expands menu options.

GPS & Data Tracking

Enables operational oversight, cart recovery, and performance insights.

Engineered in Nairobi, built for the streets — Tonza is redefining what it means to run a street food business.

Our Impact & Vision

Building the future of street food — one cart at a time.

"We started Tonza because we believe sustainable energy should serve people — not just the planet."

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Vendor interviews & market tests

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Active carts goal by end of 2026

Prototype carts are active in Nairobi, gathering real-time user insights.

Every cart deployed replaces charcoal with innovation — saving trees, protecting lungs, and empowering cooks.

Our goal: 100 active carts by end of 2026 — each representing a cleaner kitchen, a stronger business, and a healthier community.

Join us in driving Africa's energy transition.

Fund a Cart

Make a Difference

Fund a Cart. Back a Vendor. Clean the Air.

Every contribution powers a cleaner kitchen, a stronger business, and a healthier community. Choose how you want to make an impact.

$25

Solar Light Kit

Power a vendor's solar lighting for one month — enabling safer night vending and more sales hours.

Most Impact

$500

Full Tonza Cart

Fully fund one Tonza Cart — a complete clean-energy business kit for a street vendor in Nairobi.

$100

Clean Cooker Unit

Replace a charcoal stove with a smokeless cooker — cutting emissions and protecting a vendor's health.

Want to give a custom amount or fund multiple carts?

Secure payments powered by Stripe. All contributions go directly to vendor deployment and cart production.