Nyeri County’s Naromoru Girls Secondary School Introduces Large-Scale LPG Cooking Facility

Nyeri – Naromoru Girls Secondary School has taken a significant step towards clean energy usage by inaugurating a new 2,000-kilogram capacity Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) kitchen facility.

According to Kenya News Agency, The project, a collaboration between the State Department for Energy, the United Nations Development Programme, the Embassy of Japan, and Community Road Empowerment, marks the school’s transition from firewood to LPG as its primary cooking fuel. Alex Wachira, the Energy Principal Secretary, announced the inauguration on Friday, noting that Naromoru is one of several schools benefiting from the Accelerating Clean Cooking Access (ACCA) project.

According to Wachira, similar facilities have been established in schools across Nairobi, Kajiado, Tana River, and Machakos counties. The State Department aims to promote clean cooking solutions nationwide by 2028. Wachira emphasized the environmental and health benefits of this shift, highlighting the school’s move from wood fuel to LPG.

During the launch, Naromoru Girls Secondary School received its first supply of 2,000 kilograms of LPG gas free of charge, expected to last the entire term. Wachira emphasized the broader goal of increasing clean cooking energy usage across Kenya, noting that currently only 30% of households use clean energy. The ACCA project, launched in July last year, targets the 59% of households and institutions still reliant on solid biomass fuels.

Wachira also mentioned that increased demand for fuel alternatives like LPG could lead to lower prices. He provided current LPG refilling costs as a benchmark, expressing hope for future price reductions due to economies of scale.

Esther Karira, the school principal, welcomed the new LPG facility, anticipating health and financial benefits. She pointed out the health risks associated with wood fuels and anticipated cost savings from discontinuing firewood purchases. Karira emphasized the importance of a smokeless cooking environment in preventing respiratory diseases and ensuring timely meal preparation.

The inauguration was attended by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina, Central Region Director of Education Sabina Aroni, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Madelena Monaja, and Nishimura Masaya, representing the Japanese Ambassador to Kenya.

In a statement by Japan’s Ambassador Ken Okaniwa, delivered by Masaya, Japan committed to continuing support for Kenya’s climate change initiatives, including a US$1.3 million contribution to promote clean cooking and assist Kenya in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.