The carbon cooking asset infrastructure initiative is a step forward in ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment, the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya has said.
Last week while at Garissa High School, President William Ruto launched the pilot project aimed at reducing carbon emissions and deforestation. In an interview, Naconek chairman Harun Yussuf said the programme marks a major step in the government’s strategy to replace traditional biomass fuel with steam-powered cooking technology.
“The initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, Naconek in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment seeks to transition Kenyan schools to clean, efficient, eco-friendly and sustainable cooking energy while also supporting economic empowerment through carbon credit initiatives,” Harun said.
President Ruto said the project piloted by the government at Garissa High School is part of a broader global effort to reduce the use of firewood in school cooking in favour of cleaner alternatives.
The programme will soon be rolled out in schools across the country.
“This initiative is not only in Kenya but globally because of carbon emissions and deforestation and because of this there is a global movement towards clean cooking, which Kenya is part and parcel of,” the President said.
The head of state said there is an intention to roll it out in all schools across Kenya, adding that schools are the primary target since millions of learners in use natural resources for cooking.
“It’s our intention that instead of using firewood, we will now be using gas and instead of using gas directly we will now power our cooking using steam,” he said.
The President said it’s an important step and asked the ministries of Education and Environment to conclude the pilot and take the matter to the Cabinet for approval.
The President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to lead climate action efforts, stating that as a climate-centric country and a global and regional champion of climate action, Kenya should be at the forefront of ensuring that clean cooking becomes a reality.
The initiative also aims to leverage carbon financing to sustain the School Meals Programme, which currently benefits 2.6 million learners across 8,185 schools.