President William Ruto has called for increased investment and stronger international partnerships to accelerate access to clean cooking solutions across Africa, warning that nearly one billion people on the continent still rely on traditional cooking fuels that threaten public health, education and the environment.
Speaking during a high-level virtual forum focused on keeping clean cooking at the centre of Africa’s development agenda, Ruto said African countries must sustain momentum if they are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) before the 2030 deadline.
He noted that reliance on firewood, charcoal and other polluting fuels continues to expose millions of households to harmful indoor air pollution while contributing to environmental degradation.
“Nearly one billion Africans still rely on traditional and polluting cooking fuels, with profound consequences for public health, education, environmental sustainability and climate action,” President Ruto said.
Kenya pushes for universal access by 2028
Ruto said Kenya has made clean cooking one of its national development priorities through the Kenya National Cooking Transition Strategy, which aims to ensure universal access to clean cooking by 2028.
He explained that achieving the target will require substantial financial resources. According to the President, Kenya needs approximately $435 million (about KSh56.5 billion) to provide clean cooking solutions to households nationwide. An additional $590 million (around KSh76.7 billion) will be required to transition schools, hospitals, prisons and other public institutions to cleaner energy sources.
The President noted that the challenge extends beyond households, as many public institutions across Africa continue relying on firewood, increasing pressure on forests while exposing learners, patients and workers to unsafe cooking environments.
New funding commitments announced
During the forum, Ruto welcomed $900 million (approximately KSh117 billion) in fresh commitments towards Africa’s clean cooking agenda.
He also praised the launch of the Clean Cooking Security Programme, describing it as an important step towards accelerating access to affordable and sustainable cooking technologies across the continent.
The President further announced that Kenya will become one of the inaugural members of the newly integrated Clean Cooking Alliance under the International Energy Agency (IEA), saying the partnership demonstrates Kenya’s commitment to advancing clean energy solutions.
According to Ruto, collaboration with the alliance has already helped establish Africa’s first Clean Cooking Delivery Unit, which is supporting faster adoption of clean cooking technologies in institutions across Kenya.
“As host of the rescheduled summit, Kenya remains fully committed to sustaining this momentum. We look forward to welcoming leaders once again in Nairobi and advancing this shared agenda together,” he said.
Partners urge faster action
International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said African countries have made notable progress in expanding clean cooking access over the past two decades but acknowledged that significant challenges remain.
Birol revealed that development partners have pledged $2.2 billion for clean cooking initiatives between 2024 and 2030, with approximately $750 million already disbursed.
Despite the progress, he said four out of every five Africans still rely on traditional cooking methods, contributing to an estimated 850,000 premature deaths annually from pollution-related illnesses.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described clean cooking as one of the most underfunded areas in global development and climate financing. He said expanding access would improve public health, empower women, protect forests and promote economic growth.
United States Secretary of Energy Chris Wright also commended Kenya’s leadership on clean energy, describing universal access to clean cooking as one of the world’s most achievable development goals.
He noted that millions of women continue spending hours collecting firewood and cooking in smoky environments, limiting economic opportunities while exposing families to serious health risks.
Call for stronger partnerships
President Ruto urged African governments, development partners and investors to translate financial commitments into practical projects that improve lives across the continent.
He said expanding access to clean cooking requires stronger collaboration between governments, international institutions and the private sector to ensure cleaner, safer and more affordable energy solutions become accessible to every household.
The President emphasised that Africa’s transition to clean cooking is not only an environmental priority but also a critical investment in public health, gender equality, education and sustainable economic development.
