The government is set to introduce a strategy to mitigate the global climate crisis that is the leading cause of the rising cases of respiratory illnesses by increasing the use of modern clean cooking solutions.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir disclosed that the ministry is working on the National Clean Cooking Strategy to ensure that the country is on track to achieving its target of universal access to clean energy by 2028.
Speaking at the third annual Clean Cooking Week forum, Chirchir added that plans were underway to set up a delivery unit to implement the strategy.
“Over-reliance on open fires and traditional cookstoves and fuels is one of the most pressing health and environmental problem that calls for urgent action. It is the reason why we have identified clean cooking as a national development priority by setting the target to achieve universal access to modern cooking energy services by 2028,” he stated.
The move is aimed at guiding the process through which the country will increase access to improved transitional and clean cooking solutions.
The solutions include climate-friendly efficient biomass stoves, as well as fuel switch from solid biomass and kerosene to cleaner and environmentally friendly options such as biogas, bioethanol, LPG, solar PV and electric cooking.
The CS observed that in the country, 59 percent of households use traditional fireplaces for cooking while only 30 percent of households have access to clean cooking solutions.
The strategy is being developed with technical assistance from Climate Compatible Growth (CCG), UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions, Modern Energy Cooking Services, GIZ-Energising Development (Endev) and Agence Francaise de Development.
According to the Ministry of Health, about 23,000 deaths in the country are due to household air pollution annually.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), smoke-induced diseases are responsible for the death of 4.3 million people every year.
