Ruto launches steam-powered kitchens to replace firewood in Kenyan schools

The government is adopting eco-friendly steam-cooking kitchens in Kenyan schools to reduce carbon emissions and combat deforestation.

President William Ruto on Thursday launched the kitchens at Garissa High School in Northern Kenya. The kitchens are to be installed in schools across the country replacing the use of firewood.

The schools will benefit by earning carbon credits, tradable permits that reward institutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

These credits can be sold to companies looking to offset their own carbon footprint, providing the school with extra income while promoting environmental sustainability.

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READ: How clean cooking could sustain Kenyan schools on carbon credits

NACONEK chief executive, Harun Yussuf, highlighted the economic potential of the project, stating that the shift to climate-friendly cooking methods for school feeding programs could generate up to KSh55 billion annually from carbon credits.

“These installations are poised to generate significant carbon credits, potentially yielding up to KSh55 billion each year to feed 10 million children. These installations will be regarded as a carbon asset,” Yussuf said.

Speaking at the launch President Ruto said, “This initiative is not only beneficial to Kenya but also globally due to concerns over carbon emissions and deforestation. There is a global movement towards clean cooking, and Kenya is part of this transformation.

The head of state noted that while the project is in its pilot phase, there are plans to roll it out nationwide.

Schools are the primary target since millions of learners depend on school meals, which require significant cooking resources.

“We intend that instead of using firewood, we will transition to gas. Furthermore, instead of using gas directly, we will power our cooking using steam,” Ruto said.

The president emphasised the importance of the initiative, instructing both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment to conclude the pilot phase and present the matter to the Cabinet for approval.

The model also aims to address the persistent underfunding of the school feeding program.

Project details reveal that the government plans to construct 183 centralized steam-based kitchens in urban and peri-urban schools.

Each with a capacity of 30,000 learners, catering to around 5.5 million students. Additionally, some 9,020 decentralized steam kitchens, serving between 500 and 3,000 learners, will be set up in rural and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) to support 4.5 million learners.

On Friday, Yussuf reiterated that the initiative represents a significant step toward a cleaner environment while also supporting economic empowerment through carbon credit initiatives.

He emphasized that the program is a key component of the government’s strategy to replace traditional biomass fuel with steam-powered cooking technology.

The project is currently being piloted in six schools: Nairobi School, Kwale Boys, Kwale Girls, St. John's Kaloleni, Madogo High, and Garissa High.

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It aims to transition schools from wood fuel to climate-friendly alternatives such as LPG, electricity, and solar energy.

This transition aligns with Kenya’s National Cooking Transition Strategy 2024-2027 and the Kenya Carbon Markets Regulations 2024.

Additionally, the initiative seeks to leverage carbon financing to sustain the School Meals Programme (SMP), which currently benefits 2.6 million learners across 8,185 schools.

With a target of reaching 10 million learners by 2030, the government is exploring innovative solutions, including carbon credit trading, to ensure environmental sustainability and financial viability.

During the launch in Garissa, President Ruto reaffirmed the government’s commitment to climate action, stating that Kenya, as a climate-conscious nation and a regional leader in environmental sustainability, must champion clean cooking solutions.