By Bernard Gitau
In Kenya, over 90 percent of schools rely on firewood for cooking and heating, contributing significantly to forest degradation, according to the Ministry of Education. Across 11,000 schools, firewood remains a primary source of energy, with some Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions even using it to fuel steam engines and turbines.
This widespread reliance on firewood not only harms the environment but also imposes financial and health burdens. Parents like Grace Nderitu, an environmentalist from Mweiga, Nyeri County, recount how firewood has been used as currency in schools, often to clear tuition fees.
“Due to poverty, some parents residing near forests like Aberdare and Mount Kenya have been allowed to pay school fees by delivering firewood,” Nderitu shared. “This practice increases pressure on forests and encourages illegal logging.”
The scale of firewood consumption in schools is staggering. At Amboni Secondary School, Principal Grace Mwangi revealed the school used to consume eight lorries of firewood per term.
“At an average cost of Sh 20,000 per lorry, we were spending Sh 160,000 every term. But with the help of Upper Tana and Rhino Ark, we embraced energy-saving jikos,” Mwangi said.
The introduction of energy-saving jikos has been transformative, halving their firewood expenses and reducing consumption by eight lorries per term. This shift has also improved the health of cooks, who previously endured harmful smoke from traditional stoves.
Indoor air pollution caused by burning firewood and charcoal is a major health hazard, linked to pneumonia, heart disease, and lung cancer.
Recognizing the environmental and health toll, President William Ruto on December 16, 2024, launched the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Programme for public learning institutions. Speaking at Jamhuri High School, Nairobi, the President emphasized the program’s role in combating climate change, improving health outcomes, and conserving forests.
“This initiative will ensure that 11,000 schools transition from using firewood and charcoal to clean energy,” President Ruto announced. “By curbing the cutting of trees, we are also boosting our plan to plant 15 billion trees.”
The President underscored the program’s potential to accelerate the government’s tree-planting agenda, reduce carbon emissions, and provide cleaner cooking alternatives.
“Now we can monitor the transition from biomass to gas in schools,” he said, noting the significant health and economic benefits of the shift.
To support the transition, the government plans to increase the average gas consumption per person from 6.5 kg to 15 kg annually and expand household gas penetration from 24 percent to 70 percent. This will be achieved through measures such as zero-rated taxes on LPG and improved storage infrastructure.
President Ruto announced plans to adopt an open tender system for gas purchases, ensuring competitive pricing. Partnerships with the private sector will be key, and the government will work to establish a common-user import facility at the Kenya Petroleum Refineries Ltd.
The President emphasized the broader economic potential of a thriving LPG sector. “A robust LPG ecosystem promises significant economic benefits, including increased investment and job creation,” he said.
For the program to succeed, President Ruto called on private sector players to join the government in scaling up the initiative. By enhancing LPG access and affordability, the government aims to transform energy use in schools, reduce environmental degradation, and improve the quality of life for millions of Kenyans.
“This is a win-win solution for our forests, our schools, and our people,” the President concluded.
