Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has unveiled a plan to speed up the adoption of electric cooking (e-cooking) in the country.
In a press statement seen by The Kenya Times, KPLC revealed that this is part of their plan to increase consumer uptake to over 500,000 users in the next three years.
“Kenya Power is actively promoting the adoption of electric cooking (e-cooking) among its 9.2 million customers with a target to increase uptake from approximately 90,000 current users to over 500,000 users in three years,” read the statement in part.
While speaking at the launch of the Global e-Cooking Coalition (GeCCo) during the Africa Climate Week in Nairobi, the power company’s Managing Director and CEO, Joseph Siror stated that there is untapped potential for e-cooking in Kenya.
“Electricity has traditionally been viewed as the expensive cooking alternative by many Kenyans. Middle-class households often own task-specific electric cooking appliances such as kettles or microwaves but rely on liquefied petroleum gas for the bulk of their cooking.
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However, this is no longer the case as recent studies have shown. There is, therefore, an enormous untapped potential for e-cooking in the country,” said Siror.
Moreover, through the statement released on Thursday, September 7, KPLC said recent data indicate that only 1% of electricity customers use the service to cook, with majority of Kenyans primarily relying on wood fuel and gas.
Global e-Cooking Coalition
Global e-Cooking Coalition (GeCCo) is an initiative meant to accelerate the transition from traditional cooking methods to e-cooking both domestically and commercially.
As such, the coalition consists of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and Energizing Development (EnDev) among others.
The Kenya Power boss stated that the company will work with its partners to ensure nationwide uptake of e-cooking.
“Kenya Power will work with partners to drive the uptake of e-cooking across the country,” he said.
“The utility has partnered with several other organizations including the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), and the Clean Cooking Association of Kenya (CCAK) to champion e-cooking in Makueni, Kitui, Nakuru, Kakamega, and Kisumu counties,” Siror added.
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Furthermore, KPLC stated that they aim to raise awareness of e-cooking for increased uptake by its customers through the ongoing Pika na Power public awareness campaign.
Similarly, the power company has set up demonstration centers in Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Mombasa to advance the e-cooking agenda nationally.
You Can Boil Githeri with Electricity Worth Ksh20
In addition, the KPLC boss while appearing on a media panel discussion on September 5 claimed that it is possible to boil ‘githeri’ with Ksh20 worth of electricity.
Siror affirmed that using electricity to cook is not costly as most people say.
“You can cook ‘githeri’ with Ksh20 worth of electricity. The perception that using electricity to cook is expensive is not a reality,” Siror stated.
