Kutus: The push for the adoption of clean and efficient energy for cooking in Kirinyaga County is bearing fruit, with over 6000 households having transitioned from the use of firewood to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). In the last two years, the initiative by the County Government of Kirinyaga, to help in tackling climate change and foster development, has distributed about 6400 free Meko gas cookers.
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative has helped in reducing exposure to indoor Household Air Pollution, which health experts note is responsible for millions of premature deaths each year from pneumonia, chronic lung disease, and lung cancer. Through the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Program, the County distributed 5800 free Meko gas cookers this year, while another batch of 600 was given out through the ward-based program to families bordering Mt. Kenya Forest, aiming to reduce tree felling for firewood and greenhouse gas emission caused by the use of wood fuel.
Governor Ann Waiguru emphasized the potential for rural families to switch to LPG and other modern fuels for cooking, which promises to improve their quality of life. ‘By shifting to clean cooking, we are effectively saving over 500 mature trees per year and saving our women and children from prolonged exposure to smoke that poses health problems,’ the Governor noted. The County Government also plans to establish a clean cooking program at Kibingoti Polytechnic, where women’s groups will be trained in making energy-saving jikos.
Margret Wambui, a Public Health Officer, stated that the Meko gas cooker initiative has a far-reaching effect on the lives of women and children, as it saves them from ill-health and the loss of productivity caused by pollution. ‘Majority of those affected by indoor pollution are women and children, as women are usually responsible for cooking and small children often remain close to their mothers,’ she added. Wambui explained that exposure to indoor air pollution from cooking using traditional biomass causes premature deaths from lung diseases, cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, along with ill-health and reduced productivity.
In economic terms, Wambui mentioned that the use of gas is helping families reduce health-related spending and increase productivity due to less illness and fewer deaths, as well as the time saved in collecting traditional fuels. James Mutugi, the County Executive Committee Member for Environment, Energy, Climate Change, Natural Resource, Water and Irrigation, highlighted that the clean energy program is promoting community resilience towards climate change by empowering people with practical and lasting solutions to combat the challenge. ‘Climate change continues to pose serious challenges to our communities, but through such initiatives, we are taking bold steps to empower our people to enhance adaptation and promote sustainable growth,’ he said.
Beneficiaries of the program, such as Hellen Wanjiku from Mjini slum in Kutus town, expressed gratitude for the transformation in their daily lives. Joyce Munene from Gatuto village also emphasized the health and environmental benefits of the initiative, sharing how the program has alleviated the burden of using charcoal or firewood.
The County Government’s broader climate change mitigation efforts include establishing a special fund for climate actions, enacting laws for solid waste management, creating a climate change directorate, providing training and capacity building for officers on climate change, and developing a county spatial plan. The Wezesha Kirinyaga program aims to improve farmers’ resilience to climate change, increase profitability, and minimize farm losses through various initiatives, including agroforestry promotion, community water projects, and tree planting.