From KSh 5,500 to KSh 1,500: How the Government Plans to Transform Cooking in Ol Kalou

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Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding access to clean cooking energy after joining senior officials for the rollout of a subsidized Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) programme in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County.

Kuria was accompanied by Principal Secretary for Energy Alex Wachira and Principal Secretary for Petroleum Kello Harsama at the Nyandarua County Commissioner’s Office ahead of the official launch of the initiative.

The programme is expected to benefit 20,000 households in Ol Kalou by making LPG cooking equipment significantly more affordable.

Under the initiative, each beneficiary household will receive a complete LPG cooking kit comprising a gas cylinder, burner, and grill at a subsidized cost of KSh 1,500.

The same package typically retails at around KSh 5,500, translating to a saving of approximately KSh 4,000 for each household.

Government officials say the initiative is part of a broader effort to promote the adoption of clean cooking solutions across Kenya while reducing dependence on firewood and charcoal.

Increased use of LPG is also expected to improve household health by reducing indoor air pollution and help conserve forests by lowering demand for wood fuel.

Addressing residents, Kuria urged the people of Ol Kalou to embrace the programme, describing it as a practical development initiative aimed at improving the quality of life for ordinary Kenyans.

He cautioned residents against what he termed as negative voices that could discourage participation in the government’s development agenda.

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“Development is here, and we should embrace the opportunities the Government is bringing to us,” Kuria said, emphasizing that the LPG rollout would ease the financial burden on families while providing a safer and cleaner method of cooking.

The subsidized LPG programme forms part of the government’s wider energy access strategy, which seeks to increase the number of Kenyan households using modern and environmentally friendly cooking fuels.

Authorities believe that making the initial equipment affordable is one of the most effective ways of encouraging more families to transition from traditional biomass fuels.

Residents expected to benefit from the programme welcomed the initiative, noting that the reduced cost would make LPG accessible to many families that had previously been unable to afford the upfront investment required for gas cooking.

The Ol Kalou rollout is expected to serve as a model for similar programmes in other parts of the country as the government continues implementing policies aimed at improving energy access, enhancing environmental conservation, and supporting affordable household living.

Officials expressed confidence that the initiative would accelerate Kenya’s transition to cleaner cooking energy while delivering tangible economic and health benefits to thousands of families.