President William Ruto’s Cabinet has approved a Ksh1.1 billion electric cooking programme targeting residents of Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado counties.In a Cabinet dispatch obtained by Kenyans.co.ke and dated Friday, October 9, the government announced plans to support the uptake of 100,000 electric cooking appliances under the initiative.According to the dispatch, the programme aims to promote cleaner cooking methods, reduce household exposure to harmful smoke and improve the adoption of modern energy technologies.“The Cabinet-endorsed initiative will promote cleaner cooking, reduce household exposure to harmful smoke and accelerate the transition to modern energy,” read part of the dispatch.The Cabinet noted that the initiative will cost the government about Ksh1.1 billion and will focus on increasing the uptake of electric cooking appliances in the four counties.“About Ksh1.1 billion electric cooking programme will support the uptake of 100,000 electric cooking appliances in Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado counties,” it added.However, the government did not specify whether the appliances would be distributed free of charge, sold at subsidised prices or provided through other arrangements.Similarly, the government did not indicate when the multi-billion-shilling programme would begin or how residents in the four aforementioned counties would qualify.The latest announcement appears to be a shift from the government’s previous plans to reduce the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders for Kenyan households.In 2023, Ruto pledged to reduce the price of 6kg cylinders to between Ksh300 and Ksh500, as part of efforts to make cleaner cooking fuels more affordable.However, the promised price range was not achieved, with LPG refills continuing to cost considerably more, forcing some Kenyans to seek alternatives such as charcoal and firewood.Meanwhile, to boost electricity supply to homesteads, the Cabinet adopted the Kenya National Energy Compact, setting out a plan to mobilise Ksh2.47 trillion in investment and connect an additional 5.1 million households to electricity by 2030."The initiative will expand power access to underserved communities, support enterprise growth and create opportunities for industrial development and employment," the cabinet announced.
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