Mombasa: The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Foundation is enhancing its environmental conservation efforts with a new clean cooking initiative aimed at forest-adjacent communities, in partnership with Vivo Energy Kenya. The programme is designed to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal among communities living near mangrove forests, thereby protecting the environment while improving household health and livelihoods.
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative builds on KPC Foundation’s environmental activities in Mombasa, where over one million mangrove seedlings have been planted in the past six years across 100 acres of degraded mangrove land along Tudor Creek, in collaboration with Bidii Creek Conservancy. Tudor Creek, the sole forest in Mombasa, extends from Fort Jesus to Rabai in Kilifi County and has faced degradation due to human activities and urban development.
Mangroves are vital for carbon sequestration, absorbing substantial amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and storing t
hem in carbon-rich soils for extended periods. To prevent communities from cutting down mangroves for fuel, KPC Foundation and Vivo Energy have initiated a clean cooking programme targeting vulnerable households near forests.
In its first phase, the initiative provided 90 households in Jomvu Kuu with six-kilogramme Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) kits, including a gas cylinder, burner, grill, and an initial gas refill, to encourage a shift to cleaner, safer, and environmentally sustainable cooking solutions. This effort aligns with the country’s broader goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, addressing the adverse impact of traditional cooking fuels like firewood and charcoal on indoor air quality, deforestation, and environmental degradation.
KPC Foundation Manager Rachel Gathoni emphasized that the programme is a part of the Foundation’s comprehensive environmental conservation strategy, focusing on clean energy adoption, biodiversity conservation, and climate change response. The project collaborates w
ith Community Forest Associations that have been instrumental in mangrove restoration initiatives.
Gathoni explained that the initiative was conceived after identifying the continued reliance on charcoal and firewood for cooking within these communities. ‘Our environmental programme will introduce a transition initiative, encouraging communities involved in conservation to become advocates for ending tree cutting and embracing clean energy,’ she noted.
She further highlighted that LPG usage not only supports environmental conservation but also improves public health by reducing respiratory illnesses linked to poor air quality. ‘LPG saves women time in meal preparation and enhances household health, economic well-being, and environmental sustainability,’ Gathoni added.
Vivo Energy Kenya Communications Manager Angela Munyua described LPG as safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly, noting that adopting clean energy helps protect the environment by keeping trees intact to absorb carbon dioxide and maintai
n clean air.
Bidii Creek Conservancy Chairman Ali Machicha stated that the initiative would curb the destruction of mangroves for charcoal and firewood. ‘Providing alternative energy sources is crucial for protecting mangroves, which were previously threatened by the demand for firewood and charcoal,’ Machicha remarked.
