Powering Kenya’s shift to clean cooking

Across Kenya, millions of households still rely on firewood, charcoal or kerosene for cooking.

These fuels are often the most accessible option, but they come at a high cost to health, the environment and household incomes. The burden falls hardest on women, girls and people with disabilities, especially in low-income areas.

Kenya has committed to universal access to clean cooking by 2028. Yet 68.5% of households, around 9.1 million, still depend on polluting fuels. Closing this gap means more than introducing new technologies. It requires stronger, more reliable supply chains that make clean cooking solutions available, affordable and trusted.

The Enhancement of local manufacturing and energy crop cultivation for clean cooking supply chains in Kenya (ELMECC) project works across five counties to strengthen those supply chains. By supporting local manufacturers, fuel producers, businesses and public institutions, the project helps increase the availability of high-quality clean cooking appliances and cleaner fuels. In doing so, it supports a more inclusive market that creates green jobs and attracts investment, in line with Kenya’s clean energy and development priorities.

The reality of cooking across Kenya

ELMECC operates in Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kilifi and Kajiado—counties that together reflect the full clean cooking value chain, from production and trade to public institutions and end users. They also reflect the diversity of Kenya’s cooking challenge, spanning large urban markets as well as rural and peri-urban communities where daily decisions are shaped by cost, availability and practical needs.

For many households, polluting fuels like firewood, charcoal and kerosene remain the default, contributing to poor health, deforestation and climate emissions. Cleaner alternatives do exist, but they are often unaffordable, unreliable or not well understood.

The disproportionate burden faced by women and girls is linked to exposure to smoke and the time they have to spend collecting fuel. They also do not have equative chances of participating in manufacturing, distribution and sales of fuels, hindering their potential chances of economic independence.

At the same time, market systems are still weak. Quality standards are inconsistent, access to finance is limited and producers struggle to connect with buyers.

To tackle these issues, we are strengthening local manufacturing, supporting communities to work with agro-energy crops for biofuel production, improving fuel supply, and building stronger market connections. This work is helping drive lasting change for communities and the environment.

How the clean cooking market comes together

ELMECC supports the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum to implement the Kenya National Cooking Transition Strategy and related policies. It focuses on strengthening the systems that make clean cooking possible at scale.

The project works across the value chain. It builds evidence through market and baseline studies, helping to better understand manufacturers, fuel producers, businesses and end-user demand. It strengthens supply by supporting manufacturers and energy crop producers to improve product quality, meet standards and grow their businesses. This includes training, mentorship, product testing and pilot demonstration sites for fuel production.

At the same time, it connects markets. Businesses receive support to access finance, link with buyers and distributors, and explore opportunities such as carbon markets. Behaviour change efforts help build awareness, trust and demand for cleaner cooking solutions among end-users.

Partnerships are central to this work. Practical Action leads on market development, capacity building and inclusion; the Clean Cooking Association of Kenya provides sector leadership, know-how on standards and networks; and Gamos East Africa contributes research and evidence. Together, we support a more coordinated, effective and inclusive clean cooking market.