NAIROBI, Kenya Jul 10 – President William Ruto has called for urgent investments and stronger international partnerships to accelerate access to clean cooking solutions across Africa, warning that the continent risks missing key development targets if progress slows.

📻 Breaking It Down

Speaking during a high-level virtual forum focused on maintaining momentum on Africa’s clean cooking agenda, the President said nearly one billion Africans continue to rely on firewood, charcoal and other polluting fuels that undermine health, education outcomes and environmental sustainability.

He warned that with less than five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, African countries cannot afford delays in expanding access to cleaner energy alternatives.

“Nearly one billion Africans still rely on traditional and polluting cooking fuels, with profound consequences for public health, education, environmental sustainability and climate action,” Ruto said.

📌 What You Need to Know

The meeting, which had initially been planned as the Second Africa Clean Cooking Summit in Nairobi, brought together global energy leaders and development partners to review progress and mobilise additional support for the sector.

Among those participating were International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

Ruto noted that the challenge extends beyond households, pointing out that schools, hospitals, correctional facilities and other institutions across the continent still depend heavily on firewood and other traditional fuels, increasing pressure on forests while exposing millions to harmful indoor air pollution.

The President reiterated Kenya’s commitment to achieving universal access to clean cooking through the Kenya National Cooking Transition Strategy, which targets nationwide adoption of clean cooking technologies by 2028.

However, he acknowledged that achieving the target will require significant financing, estimating that Kenya needs approximately KSh56.5 billion to provide universal household access and a further KSh76.7 billion to transition institutions to cleaner energy sources.

“The financing challenge extends across Africa. Closing the continent’s clean cooking access gap will require investment at an unprecedented scale,” he said.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya