Joseph Siror, the CEO of Kenya Power, which trades under KPLC Ticker on the stock market, has claimed that only 90,000 of its customers actively use electric cookers to prepare their main meals.
Speaking during the launch of the Global eCooking Coalition (GeCCo), Siror explained that the low uptake was caused by a negative public perception regarding cooking costs.
He further argued that whereas most middle class households owned smaller electrical appliances like kettles and microwave ovens, only 1 per cent used electricity to prepare meals.
“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," stated Siror.
"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."
The utility firm noted that it has a customer base of 9.2 million.
As a result, it is embarking on a campaign to sensitise Kenyans on the uptake of electricity as a cheaper means for cooking.
“Kenya Power will work with partners to drive the uptake of e-cooking across the country. The utility has partnered with several other organisations 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.
The campaign comes a day after the CEO advised Kenyans to turn to electricity while boiling their Githeri.
During a panel engagement on the sidelines of the Africa Climate Summit, Siror indicated that boiling Githeri on electricity only costs Ksh20 compared to other non-environmentally friendly options.
The pivot, however, is still low as Kenyans reel under the high cost of using liquified petroleum gas, whose price President William Ruto promised to lower.
For now, a 6kg gas cylinder refills for Ksh1,000 while the 13kg cylinder costs Ksh2,200.
GeCCo is an initiative aimed at accelerating the transition from traditional cooking methods to e-cooking, both domestically and commercially.
The coalition consists of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and Energising Development (EnDev) among others.
