Kenya engages First Lady in push for Pan-African Clean Cooking Coalition
Date: 2026-03-07
By: Kanto Kai Okanta
Head
of the Office of Kenya's Special Envoy for Climate Change Ambassador Ali
Mohamed has met with Rachel Ruto, the First Lady of Kenya, to discuss
strategies for advancing universal access to clean cooking across Africa under
the proposed Pan-African Coalition for Universal Access to Clean Cooking.
The
meeting forms part of efforts to advance the Pan-African Coalition for
Universal Access to Clean Cooking, a continental initiative aimed at
accelerating the transition from traditional cooking fuels such as firewood and
charcoal to cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.
According
to the Office of Kenya's Special Envoy for Climate Change, the initiative seeks
to address the widespread reliance on biomass fuels across the continent.
Millions of households and institutions, including schools and healthcare
facilities, continue to depend on polluting cooking fuels, contributing to
deforestation, rising energy costs and harmful indoor air pollution.
Officials
say the issue also has significant social impacts, particularly for women and
children who are often responsible for collecting fuel and are most exposed to
smoke-related health risks.
The
proposed coalition is being developed through collaboration between the Office
of the First Lady of Kenya, the Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change
and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum through its Directorate of Renewable
Energy. The initiative is expected to engage the Organization of African First
Ladies for Development to mobilize leadership and advocacy across the
continent.
The
coalition is intended to be country-led and supported by development partners,
with a focus on expanding clean cooking solutions for households as well as
public institutions such as schools and healthcare facilities.
Upcoming
international events are expected to provide opportunities to build support for
the initiative, including the Africa Clean Cooking Summit, the Africa-France
Summit, the United Nations General Assembly and COP31.
Officials
say these platforms will help mobilize partnerships and resources ahead of the
anticipated launch of the African coalition aimed at expanding access to clean
cooking solutions across the continent.
