Thirty households in Kihara sub-location, Nyandarua County are the recent beneficiaries of energy saving jikos courtesy of KenGen PLC’s Managing Director and CEO Mrs. Rebecca Miano on 29th October. The donations are part of the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility in empowering communities to address climate change.
The jikos, which were distributed through the KenGen Foundation, aim to bridge the gap on access to innovations that significantly contribute to the nation’s climate carbon emission reduction.
While Kenya has seen a steady advancement in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; deforestation; and the protection of ecosystems, climate change continues to be a key issue in national development and sustainability goals. The project also aims to protect trees through less demand for wood for cooking.
Addressing the recipients during the distribution exercise, area Chief Ann Muringi Mbogo urged the women groups to adopt the new jikos and do away with the traditional three-stone fireplaces.
“Stakeholders across the country are currently trying to increase the amount of forest cover from 6.9 percent to 10 percent in order to protect water supplies and biodiversity. Through these jikos, the recipients will boost the efforts in conserving the environment and mitigating climate change,” she noted.
Through KenGen PLC, the adoption of energy saving jikos, which burn firewood more efficiently than traditional open fire of a three-stone stove, is taking shape.
Tests show that the jikos consume over 60% less firewood compared to the traditional open fire stoves. Whereas open fire stoves use approximately 15kg of fuel wood to bring 30 liters of water to boil, the energy saving jikos only used 5kg! The energy saving jikos also take a shorter time to bring water to boil, and produce less smoke.
In a country where an estimated 93 percent of Kenyans still use fuels such as charcoal, firewood or paraffin for cooking, such efforts go a long way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while helping reduce deforestation.
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–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer