Kenya Power to supply 47,000 subsidised electric cookers in clean energy push
The project, backed by the African Development Bank as part of the third phase of the Last Mile Connectivity initiative, will see electric cooking appliances sold to homes at up to 50 per cent less than the market price.
Kenya Power has unveiled a Sh388 million plan to distribute 47,000 subsidised electric cookers to households in Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado counties, aiming to increase electricity usage and support clean energy adoption in the country.
The project, backed by the African Development Bank as part of the third phase of the Last Mile Connectivity initiative, will see electric cooking appliances sold to homes at up to 50 per cent less than the market price.
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In its assessment of the Kenya Electric Cooking Market Development Initiative (KEMDI), Kenya Power revealed that the programme is designed to grow the number of homes using electricity for cooking from 49,000 to 500,000 within three years.
The appliances, which include electric pressure cookers, induction cookers and air fryers, normally cost between Sh3,000 and Sh9,000 on the lower end and as much as Sh200,000 on the higher end.
The project seeks to bring these within reach of more households.
“The project aims to reduce consumer costs by up to 50 per cent, bringing high-quality, energy-efficient appliances within reach of more households,” Kenya Power said.
“To achieve this, the component aims to facilitate the widespread adoption of clean cooking technologies by facilitating the deployment of up to 47,000 energy-efficient electric cooking (eCooking) appliances in Kenya's major urban centres, namely Machakos, Kajiado and Kiambu.”
The utility company is banking on the uptake of electric cooking to not only advance clean energy goals but also lift electricity sales.
The company says making cooking appliances more affordable is key to encouraging the switch to electricity, especially in areas where harmful fuels like kerosene and charcoal are still widely used.
The 2022 Demographic and Health Survey shows that while most urban homes rely on LPG for cooking, firewood remains dominant in rural areas. Charcoal and kerosene are also used, contributing to deforestation, indoor air pollution, and health problems such as tuberculosis and lung cancer.
Kenya Power acknowledges that erratic electricity supply and rising power bills remain barriers to the success of the initiative.
But the firm believes that strategic pricing and mass distribution of efficient cookers can help drive demand and reduce dependence on polluting fuels in households.
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