Kenya has made notable progress in expanding access to clean cooking solutions, with household adoption rising from just 10 per cent in 2013 to 31 per cent in 2023, First Lady Rachel Ruto has announced.
Speaking during the 6th Clean Cooking Week held at Karisa Maitha Grounds in Kilifi Town, the First Lady described the transition as a national priority and a symbol of dignity and justice for Kenyan families.
“It is more than lighting a stove; it is about life itself,” said Rachel.
“It is about fairness, justice, and equity for women. A mother should not risk her health in a smoky kitchen, and a child should not inhale harmful fumes while studying in the evening.”
The First Lady affirmed that Kenya aims to achieve universal access to clean cooking by 2028, and committed to championing the cause beyond the country’s borders.
She announced her intention to advocate for the issue at the upcoming Second Africa Climate Summit in Ethiopia, positioning clean cooking as both a national and continental imperative.
“This is not just Kenya’s mission; it is a continental ambition,” she said.
As part of ongoing efforts, Ruto highlighted the work of her Mama Doing Good initiative, which has partnered with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the CLEAN-Air (Africa) Research Unit to develop a national training manual on household air pollution.
So far, 4,000 women have been trained as clean cooking champions. The initiative aims to scale this effort by empowering 130,000 community health promoters to become ambassadors for safe kitchens and healthier homes.
The event was attended by Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro, members of Parliament from the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Energy, and international partners, including representatives from the British High Commission and the German Consulate.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi reaffirmed the government’s commitment, emphasizing the links between clean cooking, public health, and environmental protection.
“Clean cooking is not only about public health, but also about protecting our environment from greenhouse gas emissions. Partnerships are the engine of success in this journey,” Wandayi said.
British High Commission Economic Counsellor Daniel Wilcox
and German Honorary Consul Stefan Wentzel both lauded Kenya’s leadership,
calling it a pioneer in Africa’s transition toward clean cooking technologies.
