05/05/2026
"With the traditional jiko, a tin of charcoal, going for Ksh 100 would only last a day or two. Now, with this jiko, the same amount can last me an entire week.”
These words from Josephine Naipasha, a resident of Merille, highlight the immediate relief brought by the MotoSAFI Mashinani initiative. Josephine has seen her fuel expenses drop significantly. By using a small amount of charcoal to cook a variety of meals, she is making her resources last much longer, allowing her to even allocate the money she saves to other important household needs. After seeing how well the charcoal stove worked, she has now also adopted an improved wood stove, a model designed to use 71% less wood and reduce emissions by 81% compared to an open fire.
This effort is part of an ongoing mission to reach as many households as possible within our community conservancies. So far, almost 4,000 energy-saving jikos have been distributed across 23 Conservancies in Isiolo, Samburu, Laikipia, Marsabit, Baringo, and West Pokot Counties.
The transition to clean energy is also driven by the need to address long-standing daily struggles faced by community members. Hilo Duba, from Shurr Conservancy, is among a group of farmers who manage a nearby climate-smart farm. For her, time is a precious resource. Hilo was one of 42 community members in her area to receive a jiko, and her motivation was that fetching firewood had become a painful burden. The long hours spent walking were physically exhausting, leading to persistent back problems, and she was often exposed to constant security risks in the bush. By using a stove that reduces the need for frequent fuel collection, she is able to reclaim her time and protect her health.
The introduction of these jikos is a big step toward protecting the environment. While wood and charcoal remain the main fuels used for cooking, these stoves reduce the amount needed by 60% to 80%, easing the pressure on our rangelands and forests. This efficiency also creates a safer home environment by reducing harmful indoor pollution.
Supported by Embassy of Denmark in Kenya and Somalia's Danida through the Northern Rangelands Trust, this initiative highlights how small-scale efficiency leads to large-scale change by helping households reduce their fuel footprint.
