Kirinyaga government has given out 600 gas cylinders, popularly known as Meko, to Ngariama ward residents.
Governor Anne Waiguru said the move is part of the county's initiative to conserve the environment through the reduction of felling of trees for wood fuel.
The distribution to households neighbouring Mt Kenya Forest Friday will help in mitigation of climate change and reduce greenhouse gases emission.
The governor said tree felling has been an issue of concern.
“We are taking drastic measures to sensitise and support our people on clean energy fuel as opposed to firewood," she said.
Waiguru said the county plans to purchase and distribute extra 3,000 cylinders to more residents.
The initiative will also ensure a dignified life for the rural women who have been using wood fuel to cook enduring smoke and soot emitted by firewood.
“This is not only a climate change mitigation measure, but also a way of improving the lives of our women,” she said.
LPG is more efficient and cheaper source of fuel and is also healthy as it spares families and environment from the hazardous effects of carbon monoxide emission that pollute the air.
Some of the measures the county is planning to take to mitigate climate change include the establishment of a fund for climate actions, enactment of laws for solid waste management, establishment of climate change directorate, training and capacity building for officers on climate change and development of county spatial plan.
Others are the empowerment of Wezesha Kirinyaga programme aimed at boosting farmers' resilience to climate change and increase their profitability and minimise farm losses, promotion of agroforestry through distribution of Hass avocado and macadamia to farmers and doing more than 60 community water projects to improve water availability for domestic and irrigation.
The governor also distributed eight (100-sitter) tents and 800 plastic chairs to 10 self-help groups for use during social events, or hiring them out for income generation and incubators for three other groups to operate hatcheries for chicks.
“The chairs and tents will be of great help to members whenever they have events, thus saving them the money that could have been used to hire the items. They can also be hiring them out for income,” Waiguru said.
