Senator Hamida Kibwana pushes for clean cooking reform in Kenya

Senator Hamida Kibwana

In kitchens across Kenya, cooking is still done the same way it has been for generations. Wood fires burn for hours each day in schools, homes, open air markets and public institutions. Smoke fills the air. Meals take time. Fuel must be gathered or bought. For many, especially women and girls, it is a daily burden that shapes how time is spent and how opportunities are limited.

Across the country, nearly 70% of households still rely on firewood, charcoal and other polluting fuels for cooking. In rural areas, this rises to over 90%, further contributing to soil erosion, biodiversity loss and degradation of forests

A motion tabled in the Senate sets out a national approach to clean cooking linking it to health, environment and economic development. The motion has been introduced by Senator Hamida Kibwana, a member of the Climate Parliament network, reflecting the growing role of parliamentary leadership in driving practical solutions on the ground. It also links clean cooking to Article 42 of the Constitution, which guarantees every Kenyan the right to a clean and healthy environment. The motion proposes practical steps to accelerate change, including: 

• Council of Governors develops county-level policies, frameworks and budgets that mainstream clean cooking into devolved energy and health functions.

• National Treasury and Ministry of Energy prioritise clean cooking in financing frameworks, including results-based financing and blended finance models to de-risk private investment.

• County Governments incorporate clean cooking targets in their County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) and ensure public institutions such as schools, health facilities and prisons adopt clean cooking solutions.

• National Treasury and County Governments to fast-track letters of authorization to unlock carbon finance markets (Article 6.2 and CORSIA) for clean cooking projects.

• County Governments engage the private sector actors, and community organizations to expand clean cooking access, create local jobs, and reduce pressure on forest resources. 

At its core, this is about people. In schools alone, the scale of the challenge is stark. Around 90% of institutions still rely on firewood for cooking, using an estimated 1.3 million tonnes each year. Kitchens are often filled with smoke and even food tastes like smoke in some instances. Staff work in difficult conditions. Students wait longer for meals that are essential to their day. Smoke from traditional cooking is not just an inconvenience but health hazard. In Kenya, indoor air pollution is linked to more than 26,000 deaths each year, with women and children most affected. It is also linked to eye infections and respiratory diseases such as asthma and lung infections, with women and children suffering the most.

The impact goes beyond the kitchen. Reliance on firewood contributes to deforestation and rising emissions. It increases costs for institutions already under pressure. It also reinforces inequality, as the responsibility for sourcing fuel and managing long cooking times falls disproportionately on women. Women and children in Kenya spend many hours collecting firewood, and children from poor families tend to miss schooling in search of firewood. Firewood use has also been responsible for house fires and fires in slums and markets resulting in burn injuries, destruction of property and even loss of lives. For many the shift is not straightforward. High upfront costs, ongoing fuel expenses and low or unstable incomes mean cleaner options are often out of reach. Many households also use a mix of fuels, turning to cleaner options for quick tasks but relying on wood or charcoal for longer cooking, which limits overall progress.

Clean cooking changes this. Modern solutions such as electric cooking can remove smoke from kitchens, reduce pressure on forests, enhances hygienic cooking, and cut long term costs. For a typical school, moving away from wood fuel can save significant amounts each year while avoiding nearly 188 tonnes of emissions annually. Scaled across thousands of schools, the impact becomes national.

But many public institutions cannot afford to invest in new systems, even when the long-term savings are clear. Until now, many clean cooking efforts have remained small scale and fragmented.

The motion sets out a national clean cooking framework, bringing together policy, finance and delivery across government. It brings together national and county governments, financial institutions and local businesses to scale solutions. It focuses on practical steps such as integrating clean cooking into public budgets and plans, unlocking climate finance and creating models that remove upfront costs for schools.

It also creates space for local enterprise. Expanding clean cooking goes beyond technology. It can support small businesses, create jobs and build new supply chains at the county level. From equipment providers to service operators, there is an opportunity to grow a domestic market that delivers both economic and social returns.

Parliamentarians have a critical role to play. Through oversight, budgeting and constituency level funding, they can help move clean cooking from pilot projects to widespread adoption. In many cases, they are the link between national ambition and delivery on the ground.

Climate Parliament’s network of legislators is increasingly active, helping to connect policy, finance and delivery across countries. The motion reflects a growing recognition that clean cooking sits at the intersection of multiple priorities. It improves public health. It supports gender equality. It reduces emissions. It strengthens local economies. For families and institutions, the change is immediate and visible. Cleaner kitchens. Faster cooking. Lower costs. More time for other activities. For Kenya, it is a step towards a more resilient and sustainable energy future.