By Dan Kaburu
For years, the first indicator that a meal was cooking in the kitchen, at Katana Ngala Secondary School in Kilifi North, was smoke from the firewood billowing from the school’s kitchen chimney.
Today, the hustle and bustle of the cooks preparing meals for over 1,500 students seems like any other day,but there’s something different now.
Gone are the days of cooking over a smoky, inefficient three-stone fire. Instead, two modern, clean cooking stoves have made their debut, and they’re transforming the way food is prepared.
The school’s journey from traditional cooking methods to modern stoves started months ago, and the difference is evident. The cooks, once burdened by the challenges of using firewood, now work with a renewed sense of purpose and efficiency. They no longer have to contend with the constant struggle of gathering firewood or the health risks posed by smoke inhalation.
Before the installation of these stoves, cooking for such a large number of students was no easy task. The traditional three-stone method was not only time-consuming but also costly. According to John Mrima, the school principal, the cost of firewood was astronomical.
“We normally get firewood from suppliers in areas where we still have forests, especially Magarini,” says Mrima. “A mini-truck costs 50,000 Kenya shillings, and it’s barely enough to last a month,”said Mrima
This ongoing expense was a financial strain, and Mrima was acutely aware of the environmental toll caused by the relentless demand for firewood.
“The harvesting of firewood is not just costly; it’s unsustainable. It contributes to deforestation and worsens the environmental crisis we’re already facing,” he explains.
This issue isn’t isolated to Katana Ngala. Across Kenya, schools heavily rely on wood fuel for cooking, a practice that is putting immense pressure on the country’s forests. As the demand for firewood grows, so does the threat to these vital ecosystems.
However, hope is on the horizon. Thanks to a partnership between the Clean Cooking Association of Kenya (CCAK), the Kilifi County Government, and WWF-Kenya, under the Voices of Just Climate Action initiative, schools in Kilifi County are adopting clean cooking technologies. Katana Ngala Secondary is one of the first to benefit from the introduction of these modern cooking stoves.
The cooks are particularly pleased with the change. Unlike the traditional stoves, the new clean cookers emit minimal smoke, creating a healthier working environment.
“It’s much better now,” says one of the cooks. “We don’t have to deal with the smoke anymore, and the heat is much easier to control. The cooking is faster, and the food quality is consistently good.”
These stoves are designed for heavy use and are built to last. They not only enhance safety by providing better temperature control but also ensure that food is cooked more efficiently. Schools that adopt these clean cookers are seeing more than just improvements in their kitchens. They are also making a significant contribution to environmental conservation, helping to reduce the pressure on Kenya’s forests.
According to Philomena Mitalo, the National Coordinator, Clean Cooking Association of Kenya (CCAK), Kilifi County schools use a lot of wood fuel for cooking, there pushing demand for fire wood resulting in deforestation.
“Katana Ngala Secondary School was using open fire cooking method and one boiler which were consuming a lot of fire wood. We installed two 100 kilograms cooking stoves to minimize use of fuel wood at the institution, “she says.
The Initiative is not only focusing on schools alone, but also homes where thousands of people use fire wood for cooking.
“We are looking at transitioning 10,000 homes, right now we are halfway three years after we started”. Said, Mitalo.
Kilifi County is working with stakeholders that include , WWF-Kenya, CCAK and others, to transition to clean energy.
“All sectors in Kilifi County, from Health, Blue economy, roads, schools and all other sectors require energy. That is why we want to embrace renewable energy to spur economic growth and environment conservation,” said Flora Mbetsa, Kilifi County Deputy Governor.
Across the country, schools collectively consume thousands of tons of wood fuel each year with more than 90% of schools using fuel wood for cooking. Statistics by CCAK shows that schools across the country use more than 1 million tons of wood every year for cooking.
This demand has contributed to the depletion of local forests and the ongoing environmental crisis. But with the widespread adoption of energy-saving stoves, schools could dramatically reduce their carbon footprint and financial burdens.
By embracing clean cooking solutions, schools in Kenya could lead the way in both environmental and financial sustainability. The shift from firewood to clean energy doesn’t just save trees—it saves money, improves health, and ensures that future generations will inherit a healthier, greener planet.
Over 90% of schools across Sub-Saharan Africa rely on wood fuel (firewood) for cooking, with Kenya alone consuming over 1.3 million metric tonnes of wood annually according to available data. Due to this practice, local forests have significantly been affected through deforestation. A single school can clear up to 56 acres of forest per year to meet its cooking needs.
Additionally, data from the Clean Cooking Alliance of Kenya shows that primary and secondary schools in Kenya uses one metric tonnes of wood-fuel each year. However, science has proven that for every one metric tonne of wood burnt, 1.8 metric tonnes of CO2 gas is released into the atmosphere.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health 2021 report estimated that 23,000 people die annually from household air pollution.
As this initiative continues to spread across Kilifi County, it serves as a reminder that small changes can make a big difference. With cleaner, more efficient cooking methods, schools not only improve their operations but also take a significant step towards safeguarding the environment for generations to come.
