Govt aims for 100 per cent clean cooking in four years

Koko Networks Public Affairs Associate Mabel Rubadiri, Vihiga Woman Rep Beatrice Adagala her Machakos counterpart Joyce Kamene and Nairobi's Esther Passaris look on as Environment CS Soipan Tuya (2nd right) test the efficacy of a KOKO Cooker during the launch of NGAAF project to provide clean energy cooking solutions. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

More than 2,000 Nairobi Residents on Wednesday received clean cooking gas is in line with the government's objective of environment conservation.

Speaking during the launch of the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) clean cooking project the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Soipan Tuiya said there is need for a clean cooking energy.

''I am happy to say through the ministry we recently completed the development of a clean cook strategy which aims to transition the country to 100 per cent clean cooking by 2028,'' said Tuiya.

The beneficiaries are mostly widows and single mothers who received two burner cookers. They also received two Bioethanol refills.

Tuya lauded the initiative led by the office of Esther Passaris, the Women Representative Nairobi County for partnering with different stakeholders to promote the use of Bioethanol fuel.

''It is worth noting that the World Health Organisation (WHO) categorised Bioethanol as the cleanest fuel. It is not just about the Koko fuel it is a transition that the government is currently undertaking, ''she said.

Tuya while calling upon more partners to help in the production of more clean energy reiterated the government's support.

She said that with the amendment of the Climate Change Act, the government is stepping up efforts to integrate clean cooking.

"As we plan to plant 15 billion trees in 10 years we must provide clean cooking solutions as 70 per cent of Kenyans still depend on our forest for domestic fuel. We must encourage clean cooking innovations for our initiatives to be achievable,'' she said.

Passaris pledged to support women as she encouraged them to pay taxes to benefit from such initiatives.

"This programme was enabled by your taxes so I would encourage you to join the government in tax collection to enjoy and in the next six months or one year we come back with more,'' said Passaris.