The 2022 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Demographic and Health Survey revealed a high dependence on traditional cooking fuels. According to the survey, 68.5% of the Kenyan population (9.1 million; 1.7 million in urban areas and 7.4 million in rural areas), rely on traditional cooking fuel options – firewood and charcoal as their primary source.
In Northern Kenya, energy poverty persists as a significant barrier to health, education, and economic opportunities. A 2023 Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) assessment found that 76% of households use firewood and 48% rely on charcoal for daily cooking, often over traditional open fires that produce significant amounts of smoke. The use of fuelwood for cooking in households and institutions exacerbates the issue of rangeland degradation and indoor air pollution, with consequences on their respiratory health.
While 57% of households use mobile solar lamps for lighting, many still rely on kerosene or have no access to lighting at all, which limits productivity and learning opportunities after dark. This further reinforces the broader challenges of poverty, gender inequality, and limited access to opportunity, especially in a region that already experiences marginalization due to climate change, geography, infrastructure gaps, and low household incomes.
Recognizing these dynamics, MashinaniWORKS, in collaboration with the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) through its Nature-based Solutions, Water, and Energy Project, supported by Danida, initiated a sensitization and pilot program on sustainable energy from May 26 to June 20, 2025. The exercise was carried out in 11 NRT member community conservancies across Leparua, Sera, Kalama, Westgate, Ilngwesi, Lekurruki, Naibunga Lower, Naibunga Central, Melako, Jaldesa, and Shurr, in Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, and Laikipia Counties. Women engaged in beadwork and the Rangelands SACCO formed the core participants, reflecting an understanding that women, as household energy managers.
The objective of this exercise was to determine which cooking and lighting fuels are currently in use among community members and to identify other suitable options that save time and money, improve health, and have a positive environmental impact.
Findings revealed that firewood remains the primary cooking fuel in all conservancies, with 43% of households also using charcoal and only 3.2% accessing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), mostly for making tea. A few households had biogas systems, but most were non-functional due to a lack of water, maintenance issues, and limited user training. Although communities are aware of cleaner options, high costs and accessibility barriers have prevented adoption.
Economic and temporal costs associated with traditional fuels emerged as a recurring concern. On average, households spent approximately KES 1,270 per week (over KES 60,000 annually) on firewood and charcoal, an expense that is disproportionate to local income levels. Many women described walking long distances and spending up to nine hours each week collecting firewood, often under conditions of insecurity. The implications are multifaceted: reduced time for income-generating activities, heightened exposure to physical danger, and growing pressure on already degraded landscapes.
Beyond the financial strain, the health and emotional toll is severe. Participants described daily struggles with smoke-filled kitchens, respiratory and eye problems, back pain, and burn injuries. None of the households are connected to the national power grid; 69% use portable solar lamps, while 31% rely on small solar panels that require regular payments to remain active. For women who rely on beadwork as a source of income, lighting has a direct impact on productivity and their livelihood.
Several participants shared their personal experiences, revealing the human cost behind traditional fuel use.
Another added, “I stepped out for less than five minutes — in those few minutes, I lost my little girl to burns from firewood.”
A second participant said, “If I could afford the improved cookstove, it would mean rest and healing to my legs and back.”
Such voices exemplified the gendered dimensions of energy poverty, underscoring the urgent need for cleaner, safer, and more affordable energy options in these communities.
Through this participatory process, a strong demand was identified for energy solutions, including improved cookstoves and solar power. Communities themselves have identified a network of highly trusted sales agents to distribute these sustainable energy products that align with their lifestyles and can be affordably adopted. These agents have undergone training on the operation and maintenance of the jikos. They will be able to assist the community members, ensuring the products deliver maximum benefit and long-term value.
These findings laid the groundwork for the launch of MotoSAFI Mashinani, a clean-energy initiative by MashinaniWORKS, which aims to promote access to and adoption of sustainable energy solutions for communities.
The program was officially launched in Chumvi, Il Ngwesi Conservancy, on September 16, 2025, bringing together community members to celebrate a new chapter in clean and sustainable energy in northern Kenya. The event was coupled with the distribution of cookstoves to 130 households.
Since the pilot, the initiative has gained strong momentum. Over 500 energy-saving cookstoves have been distributed across the 11 conservancies, including 260 new units in Kalama, Sera, Naibunga Central, Melako, and Jaldesa. Through the local sales agents, families are now accessing cleaner, more affordable solutions that reduce smoke, lower household expenses, and protect the fragile rangeland environment.
The ambition is to reach 5,000 households by the end of next year, a target that, if achieved, could offer a replicable model for integrated, community-led approaches to energy access.
With the generous support of Danida through NRT, MotoSAFI Mashinani represents a significant step toward resilience and sustainable development in Kenya’s historically marginalized areas.
MotoSAFI Mashinani: As Seen in the Media
