TIFA survey: Firewood still Kenya’s top cooking fuel despite rising LPG use

Kenyan households continue to depend heavily on firewood for cooking, even as the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) steadily increases, a new survey by Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) has shown.

The report, titled "Three Years of Kenya Kwanza: Where Do Kenyans Stand?", was released on Thursday. It found that firewood remains the most widely used cooking fuel in the country, with 41 per cent of households relying on it.

The study highlighted stark differences between urban and rural areas. Two-thirds of urban residents (66 per cent) use LPG, compared to only 23 per cent of rural households.

“While the most common fuel used by Kenyans overall for residential cooking is firewood (41 percent), there is a marked contrast between urban and rural dwellers in this regard, with a considerable majority of the former using LPG, nearly three times more than their rural counterparts (66 per cent vs. 23 per cent), as the main fuel for this purpose,” reads the report.

Income levels also shaped household choices. In urban areas, 89 per cent of the wealthiest families reported using LPG, compared to just 38 per cent of the poorest. A similar gap was observed in rural areas, where 45 per cent of affluent households used LPG, against only 14 per cent of the poorest.

The survey was conducted between August 23 and September 3, 2025, interviewing 2,023 randomly selected adults across all 47 counties. Respondents were engaged in their homes through face-to-face interviews, mainly in Kiswahili and English. TIFA said the poll carries a margin of error of +/- 2.17 per cent.

The report also showed a steep decline in the use of wood over the past decade and a notable rise in LPG uptake.

“Over the last ten years, there has been a marked decline in the nation’s use of wood for cooking and a corresponding increase in the use of LPG, so that a far narrower margin now separates the two as compared to a decade ago (4 per cent vs. 42 per cent),” TIFA noted.

Paraffin use

Paraffin use has also dropped sharply, falling from 14 per cent six years ago to just four per cent today.

TIFA attributed these shifts to clean cooking initiatives by government and private actors, climate advocacy, and fiscal reforms.

“This quite remarkable achievement is apparently due to several factors, including the public education efforts made by Government and various private sector/environmental groups (including President Ruto’s active support of such measures as seen at the last several internal Climate Change conferences, as well as his tree planting engagements), and the recent elimination of VAT on LPG,” reads the report.

First Lady Rachel Ruto has consistently emphasised the value of clean cooking solutions, noting their impact on health, dignity, and opportunity.

“Clean cooking is about dignity and safety in the daily lives of every Kenyan family. It means a mother is no longer forced to cook in a smoky kitchen that harms her health; a child is able to study in the evening without inhaling dangerous fumes, and families save time and resources, freeing women and youth to pursue education and entrepreneurial opportunities,” she said during Clean Cooking Week on August 26, 2025.

TIFA added that while public opinion may shift depending on political and economic changes, the findings provide a clear snapshot of Kenyan households at the time of the survey.

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