Naromoru Girls School Joins ACCA Project, Commissions 2,000kg LPG Kitchen for Clean Cooking.
Naromoru Girls Secondary School in Nyeri County has recently adopted clean cooking energy solutions, joining a growing number of educational institutions in Kenya embracing this eco-friendly approach. The school marked this transition with the commissioning of a 2,000-kilogram capacity Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) kitchen, funded jointly by the State Department for Energy, the United Nations Development Programme, the Embassy of Japan, and Community Road Empowerment.
The move from traditional firewood to LPG as the primary cooking fuel is part of the Accelerating Clean Cooking Access (ACCA) project, with Energy Principal Secretary, Alex Wachira, stating that similar facilities have been introduced in other schools across Nairobi, Kajiado, Tana River, and Machakos counties. The overarching goal of the State Department is to advocate for the adoption of clean cooking solutions nationwide by 2028.
Wachira highlighted the importance of transitioning away from wood fuel, emphasizing the need to accelerate clean cooking practices. He underlined that only 30% of households in the country currently use clean cooking energy, and the ACCA project aims to reach nearly 59% of households and institutions still reliant on solid biomass fuels.
During the official kitchen opening, the school received an initial consignment of 2,000 kilos of LPG gas, provided free of charge and expected to last the entire term. Wachira encouraged the broader use of clean energy alternatives, noting that increased demand for LPG could contribute to reduced prices in the future.
Esther Karira, the school principal, highlighted the health benefits of adopting LPG, stating that it would help mitigate respiratory risks associated with wood fuels. The transition is also expected to save the school money previously spent on purchasing firewood, ensuring a smokeless kitchen and dining hall for the safety and well-being of students and staff.
Accompanying Wachira during the launch were Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and Kieni Member of Parliament Njoroge Wainaina. Also in attendance were Central Region Director of Education Sabina Aroni, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Madelena Monaja, and the representative of the Japanese ambassador to Kenya, Nishimura Masaya.
Japan’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s climate change initiatives was reiterated by Ambassador Ken Okaniwa, who pledged US dollars 1.3 million towards promoting clean cooking and helping the government achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. In a message read on his behalf, Nishimura Masaya expressed hope that the modern clean cookers installed at Naromoru Girls Secondary School would contribute to Kenya’s climate change efforts and improve public health.
