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Home World News Emerging Markets Innovative Cooking Solution Transforms Lives in Nairobi’s Mukuru Settlement

Innovative Cooking Solution Transforms Lives in Nairobi’s Mukuru Settlement

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African Development Bank

In the informal settlement of Mukuru on Nairobi’s outskirts, a pioneering gas energy company is making a significant impact by offering clean cooking solutions to low-income households.

 

The company, M-Gas, has introduced a pay-as-you-cook model that allows residents to access affordable liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This will revolutionize how families cook and enhance their quality of life.

 

Aurelia Aureh, a Mukuru resident, has experienced a dramatic improvement in her cooking practices since switching from charcoal to M-Gas. Previously, Aureh faced the health risks and expenses associated with charcoal, spending approximately Ksh50 (about $0.38) per cooking session.

 

With M-Gas, she now pays less than half that amount and benefits from a hassle-free experience.

 

The system monitors her gas usage and ensures timely replacements, which are managed through mobile payments via M-Pesa.

 

“I no longer need to worry about running out of gas or the safety of my children around it,” Aureh said.

 

The M-Gas initiative, launched in 2019, leverages intelligent meter technology to provide LPG in manageable quantities starting as low as Ksh10 (about $0.077).

 

This approach addresses the high upfront costs associated with traditional gas cylinders and aims to make clean cooking accessible to those who could not otherwise afford it.

 

Solomon Quaynor, Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialisation at the African Development Bank (AfDB), visited Nairobi in late July 2024 to explore potential collaborations in the clean cooking sector.

 

During his visit, Quaynor met with M-Gas CEO Martin Kimani and representatives from Circle Gas, M-Gas’s parent company. Discussions focused on partnership opportunities to advance Africa’s energy transition.

 

Quaynor also visited Mukuru to see firsthand the benefits of M-Gas, interacting with residents like Aureh and Mercy Karimi, who reported improved health outcomes since switching from kerosene to M-Gas.

 

Mercy Karimi highlighted that her young daughter no longer suffers from chest infections and breathing issues linked to the dangerous fumes of kerosene.

 

“Since switching to M-Gas, my child has been healthier, and we visit the hospital less frequently,” Karimi said.

 

The AfDB’s commitment to clean cooking is vital to its broader strategy to address energy poverty.

 

The Bank pledged $2 billion over the next decade to support clean cooking solutions across Africa in May.

 

This investment aims to save lives and reduce the harmful effects of cooking with traditional fuels like biomass and charcoal.

 

Despite recent improvements in electricity access, around one billion people across Africa still rely on open fires and rudimentary stoves, which pose significant health risks.

 

Quaynor’s tour of the M-Gas depot in Ruaka, a suburb northwest of Nairobi, included demonstrations of the intelligent metered system and interactions with residents and business owners.

 

Stephen Njogu, a Ruaka resident, praised M-Gas for its affordability and cleanliness compared to kerosene.

 

Faith Kamau, who operates a small eatery, noted that M-Gas has improved her business operations by providing reliable cooking fuel and responsive customer support.

 

Quaynor emphasized that such positive experiences drive the Bank’s efforts to increase investments in affordable, clean cooking solutions.

 

“The AfDB is working with the private sector to catalyze investments that address energy poverty and support Sustainable Development Goal 7, which focuses on affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all,” he said.

 

The Bank’s annual $200 million investment is part of a broader $4 billion per year goal to extend clean cooking access to more African families by 2030.

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