AfDB's VP Spotlights Innovative Clean Cooking Solutions in Nairobi Amid $2 Billion Commitment

The initiative has caught the attention of Solomon Quaynor, the African Development Bank’s Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialisation.

In Nairobi’s expansive informal settlement of Mukuru, an innovative gas energy solution is transforming lives. Aurelia Aureh, a local resident, has embraced smoke-free cooking with M-Gas, a service designed for low-income households. Previously reliant on charcoal, which was costly and hazardous, Aureh now enjoys the benefits of M-Gas’s pay-as-you-cook model, which allows her to access clean energy affordably.

Before using M-Gas, Aureh spent about Ksh50 (roughly $0.38) per cooking session on charcoal. Now, her costs are reduced to less than half that amount. The system’s convenience includes automatic refills and the ability to pay using M-Pesa mobile money, making cooking safer and more accessible.

M-Gas, launched in 2019, offers a smart meter technology that enables users to purchase liquid petroleum gas (LPG) in small, affordable quantities, even as low as Ksh10 (approximately $0.077). This approach addresses the high upfront costs of gas and cylinders, making it easier for low-income consumers to switch to cleaner energy sources.

The initiative has caught the attention of Solomon Quaynor, the African Development Bank’s Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialisation. Quaynor visited Nairobi in late July 2024 to explore potential collaborations in Kenya’s clean cooking sector. During his visit, he met with M-Gas CEO Martin Kimani and other key stakeholders, including Circle Gas’s Board Chairman Carey Ngini and Board member Michael Joseph.

Quaynor's visit also included a tour of Mukuru, where he interacted with residents like Aureh and Mercy Karimi. Karimi shared how M-Gas has improved her child’s health by replacing dangerous kerosene with clean cooking gas.

The African Development Bank has committed $2 billion over the next decade to clean cooking solutions in Africa. This pledge aims to save 600,000 lives annually by addressing the health hazards associated with smoke from traditional cooking methods.

Despite increased access to electricity, many Africans still rely on open fires and basic stoves. The Bank’s investment in M-Gas and similar initiatives is part of a broader effort to tackle energy poverty and promote Sustainable Development Goal 7, which focuses on affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.

Quaynor's visit underscored the Bank’s commitment to accelerating investments in clean cooking technologies. The $200 million annual contribution is a significant step towards the $4 billion needed to provide clean cooking solutions to more African families by 2030.