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Last edited: 7 October 2025
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The Kenya National Cooking Transition Strategy (KNCTS 2024–2028) includes solar cooking as part of its technology-neutral approach to achieving universal clean cooking access by 2028.
Recognition and Role[]
- Solar cooking is explicitly recognized as a clean cooking pathway.
- It is highlighted as particularly relevant for off-grid rural households, where sunlight is abundant and access to LPG or electricity is limited.
- The strategy lists both solar thermal cookers and solar-electric cooking as viable options.
Technology Types Mentioned[]
- Solar box cookers – suitable for slow cooking, boiling, and drying.
- Solar concentrating cookers – capable of higher-heat cooking.
- Solar-electric cooking – using solar PV, batteries, and electric pressure cookers.
Limitations[]
- The strategy notes that weather dependence and cultural cooking preferences (such as frying or cooking at night) limit widespread adoption of purely solar-thermal cookers.
- Solar-electric cooking is considered more versatile and culturally acceptable.
Integration with Electrification[]
- Solar PV mini-grids and home systems are seen as enablers of electric cooking.
- Solar cooking is positioned as a complementary option within a "fuel stacking" approach, where households use multiple fuels and technologies.
Policy Stance[]
- Kenya will not promote solar cooking as a standalone solution.
- Instead, it is part of a diverse toolkit alongside LPG, electricity, and biofuels.
- The government encourages innovation and private sector pilots in solar-electric cooking, especially in areas where grid expansion is slow.
Strategic Positioning[]
- Solar cooking is not the primary pillar of the strategy (LPG and electric cooking receive more emphasis).
- It is considered an important complementary option, particularly for climate and deforestation goals.
- The KNCTS ties solar cooking to broader objectives of reducing reliance on charcoal and firewood.