M.D. and CEO Donation Warms the Hearts of Samburu Women
The Managing Director and CEO of KenGen PLC Mrs. Rebecca Miano donated 35 energy-saving jikos through the KenGen Foundation to women groups in Poro Ward, Samburu West Constituency, Samburu County on 29 September.
Speaking during the event, the KenGen Foundation’s Managing Trustee Anthony Igecha said that the donation is one of the measures KenGen is taking to conserve the environment and is part of the company’s strategy in supporting communities in addressing climate change.
Samburu County is primarily semi arid, with the communities practicing cultural nomadism while depending on firewood and traditional jikos for cooking. This has had an adverse overall effect the county’s population’s health and environmental sustainability.
Addressing the women during the distribution exercise, nominated MCA Ms. Doris Lengerasi urged the group to adopt the new jikos and do away with the traditional three-stone fireplaces that were synonymous with the Samburu culture.
“The environmental-friendly jikos use less firewood compared to the local jikos hence will boost efforts in conserving the environment,” she noted.
The energy-saving jikos produce less smoke, are efficient in firewood consumption, and are durable and affordable. The jikos use 2-3 firewood instead of the traditional cookers that use a lot of wood fuel.
The use of wood fuel is predominant in rural areas, with about 95% of the households relying on it. Wood fuel consumption remains one of the major factors for degradation of Kenya’s forest resources; with estimates showing that 92% of wood fuel consumption in the country is non-renewable thus leading to increased net Green House Gas emissions.
With seventy-five percent of households in Kenya relying mainly on firewood and charcoal as the primary source of fuel for cooking and heating, KenGen PLC is at the forefront in mitigating climate change in line with Kenya’s commitment to reduce (GHG) emission by about 32 per cent by 2030.
Ms. Lengarasi observed that women and girls usually spend long hours fetching firewood and cooking over smoky-flames placing them at a higher risk of developing health complications.
She said that the energy saving jikos were of immense benefit to the residents and will simultaneously improve the quality of the environment and the associated health problems.
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–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer
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