Transforming Kitchens, Transforming Lives: Abigael’s Clean Cooking Journey in Narok

Before joining the Kawi Safi Mashinani movement, Abigael, a young mother living on the outskirts of Narok town, struggled daily with the realities of traditional cooking. A significant portion of her family’s income went into purchasing charcoal, while thick smoke stained her kitchen walls and exposed her children to unhealthy air. Cooking was not only costly but also time-consuming and physically exhausting.
Her turning point came during a community outreach and neighbourhood marketing activation organized by the Kawi Safi Mashinani Project led by GIZ Kenya, LRC Foundation in partnership with Sayona Electronics. During a live demonstration, local families were introduced to modern clean cooking solutions designed to reduce energy costs and eliminate smoke from rural homes.
Abigael watched in amazement as an electric pressure cooker (EPC) prepared beef stew quickly and efficiently while remaining safe to handle. What captured her attention most was the clear breakdown of household savings and the opportunity to cook faster using affordable electricity instead of expensive charcoal. For the first time, she saw a practical path toward a cleaner, safer kitchen.
Today, Abigael’s home tells a different story. Her walls are clean, her cooking time has been reduced significantly, and the money she once spent on charcoal is now redirected toward her children’s education and household needs. Beyond personal change, she has become a local champion for clean energy, hosting informal cooking demonstrations for neighbours and sharing her experience with other women eager to improve their families’ health and finances.
To further demonstrate the practical impact of clean cooking technology, Abigael now proudly shares photos of meals she has prepared using the electric pressure cooker, from tender beef stew to nutritious family dishes cooked in a fraction of the usual time. The images capture more than just food; they reflect a transformation in her daily life, cleaner cooking spaces, well-prepared meals, and renewed confidence in providing for her family. These visual moments serve as powerful evidence of how modern energy solutions are not only efficient but also practical and culturally adaptable for peri-urban and rural households.

Through Abigael’s journey, the Kawi Safi Mashinani Project continues to demonstrate how access to innovative clean cooking technologies, supported by partners like LRC Foundation, GIZ Kenya and private sector innovators such as Sayona Apps, is empowering rural households, reducing energy poverty, and building a sustainable future of smoke-free, energy-efficient kitchens across Kenya.