Three Years of 3D Printing – Analysis of a Small-Scale Manufacturing Hub in Kenya

The potential for 3D printing to enable localized manufacturing for community development has been discussed for over a decade, with limited instantiation. One example is Kijenzi, a Kenyan for-profit social venture established in 2019 as a community-based manufacturing hub. Over its first 42 months, Kijenzi 3D printed $40,000+$ products requested by local clients. This study analyses the products requested and manufactured at Kijenzi, creating a clearer picture of what a developing community may manufacture given access to 3D printing. The products prototyped and manufactured over this time spanned multiple sectors and a variety of client-types. Most product requests came from immediate community members; some came from around the country/region. The viability of 3D printing as a longterm manufacturing solution varied substantially across orders, and we explore better and poorer applications of the technology. While limited, this study should inform sustainable 3D printing operations focused on community development.