By Hassan I. Conteh

The Government of Kenya together with Sierra Leone has expressed ‘strong committments’ to seeing a successful implementaion of Kenya’s brainchild, Clean Cooking Unit.

The initiative, which was launched on September 6, 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, is considered a novelty by the East Africa country, and is poised to attract several other sub-Saharan African countries to be part of the Network of Delivery Units in Africa.

The Delivery Units within the framework of Kenya’s inaugural Clean Cooking Unit will provide the funding, technical support, and connections to ensure the Delivery Units are successful.

Also, it will support self-determination and equity for locally led planning and execution.

Already, there is a keen ambition to establish at least 10 Delivery Units across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Africa Climate Change 2023 was set on the theme: ”Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World.”

The Clean Cooking Delivery Unit will  compose of a team of experts within the office of the President of Kenya, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, to accelerate clean cooking access in Kenya and in Africa.

The initiative calls for a private sector capital inclusivity and carbon finance moblization to deliver on Kenya’s ambitions climate and clean energy goals.

The President of the Republic of Kenya, Dr William Ruto, is also the Chairman of The Committe of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

The African continent is contributing hugely on global greenhouse emission rates as traditional methods of cooking are still in wide practice in many parts in African countries.

Reports at the summit says, nearly 80 percent of Kenyans still rely on heavily polluting fuels such as wood and charcoal for cooking,  generating nearly 20 percent of Kenya’s greenhouse gas emissions and costing the economy KES 5.7 trillion (USD 39 billion )annually.

This is contributing to a  negative climate and health impacts on Kenyans.

”We take a great pride in pioneering this innovative governmental initiative, which untimately aims at improving the quality of life for the people of Kenya,” says, Ali Mohamed, Special Climate Envoy in Kenya.

”This groundbreaking initiative is aim at elevating the significance of this matter as a top development priority within the government. By fostering collaboration across Cabinet and adopting a systemic approach on planning and implementing, we aim to swiftly bridge the clean cooking access gap,” he said.

At least, globally, $80 billion of funding per year is required to achieving universal access to clean cooking by 2028.

This commitment is made as governments and the private sector struggle to get access to international and domestic financing.

But with the inception and existence of The Delivery Units Network, Sierra Leone’s Chairman of the Special Initiative for Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security to President Julius Maada Bio, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, says the network will ”usher in a new era of smart, inclusive, and sustainable energy transition in Sierra Leone” and other countries in the future.

”This is precisely why we are proud to launch along with the Government of Kenya, the first set of dedicated Delivery Units on clean cooking energy access –a pivotal catalyst that will enable us to drive widespread change,” Dr. Yumkella said at the summit.

The African continent whose people largely use charcoal and wood to cook their food are now determined to adopt new cooking methods that are ”safe and clean” for the environment.

African heads of state and the private sector now target themselves for African people to start using modern stoves and biofuels like gas and electricity.

Scientists and climate change researchers say ”Clean Cooking” methods can transform lives by improving health,  and protecting the climate and the environment while empowering women and helping consumers save time and money.