New Eco-Friendly Cookers Enter the Market to Support Environmental Sustainability

Climate change has become a pressing issue for governments and stakeholders worldwide due to extensive environmental damage. This damage, driven by pollution, deforestation, and other harmful practices, has adversely impacted not just human populations but also flora and fauna.

Earlier this year, Kenya faced severe consequences of climate change when catastrophic floods devastated large parts of the country. These floods claimed lives, destroyed homes, crops, and livestock, leaving thousands of people homeless and without means of livelihood. This disaster followed a debilitating drought that had already severely impacted the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya, exacerbating the hardships faced by many communities.

According to the National Forest Resources Assessment (NFRA) Report of 2021, Kenya’s forest cover was at a mere 8.8 percent, falling short of the 10 percent target set by the 2010 Constitution and the United Nations. Kenya has over seven million hectares of forest, predominantly consisting of commercial or exotic trees, with indigenous forests rapidly declining. The report notes that 37 out of the 47 counties have tree cover exceeding 10 percent, though the distribution of forest cover remains uneven, with the central, western, and coastal regions being the most forested.

In a positive turn, recent data from the NFRA suggests that Kenya’s tree cover has increased to approximately 12 percent, surpassing the constitutional requirement of 10 percent as stipulated in Article 69, Section 1(a) of the Constitution. To further address climate change, the Kenyan government launched a bold initiative in 2022 to plant 15 billion trees over the next decade, aiming to achieve a forest cover of 30 percent. This campaign is designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions, halt and reverse deforestation, and mitigate other climate-related impacts.

As part of this initiative, the government has committed to planting five million trees annually and has identified 5.1 million hectares with potential for reforestation. Supporting these efforts, two organizations are introducing eco-friendly cooking solutions to reduce reliance on firewood and further combat deforestation.

The first organization, Faith Engineering Works, is working to install steam cookers in institutions. These cookers use steam to prepare large quantities of food efficiently. Jeconia Oyolla, the company’s Sales Executive, highlighted the benefits of this technology at a Technical, Vocational Education Institutions (TVETs) International Conference in Naivasha. The steam cookers feature a boiler that uses a fraction of the fuel required by traditional cooking methods. They also come equipped with safety valves, temperature, and pressure regulators to ensure a safe cooking environment. According to Oyolla, these cookers can cut fuel costs by 60 to 70 percent, potentially recouping installation costs in three to four years. The clean, smokeless operation also reduces kitchen maintenance needs.

The second organization, Nyalore Impact Company, based in Homa Bay, is promoting electric pressure cookers for home use. Charles Mwangi, a sales executive at the company, presented these cookers at the same conference. Electric pressure cookers are energy-efficient, using limited electricity and cooking food quickly without noise or smoke. Mwangi emphasized that these cookers can save up to 79 percent in energy costs, with a cost of between three to seven shillings per hour of use. Although the cookers, priced between 10,000 to 12,600 shillings, are a significant investment, they are deemed worthwhile for both households and institutions due to their efficiency and environmental benefits.

Despite these promising advancements, investors are concerned about the potential impact of a proposed eco-levy. This tax, mentioned in recent budget proposals and rejected by the public, could undermine the benefits of such green technologies. The government has indicated a possibility of reintroducing this tax in future budget discussions, which could affect the financial viability of eco-friendly cooking solutions.

In conclusion, while Kenya makes strides toward greater forest cover and environmental sustainability through innovative cooking technologies, the introduction of potential new taxes poses a challenge. Continued support and strategic planning are essential to ensure these green initiatives effectively contribute to combating climate change and fostering a healthier planet.