Every day, millions of families around the world breathe in smoke from burning wood, unaware of the silent danger it poses. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 4 million people die each year from illnesses linked to indoor air pollution—making it one of the world’s deadliest environmental health risks.
In Kisii County, wood remains the main fuel source for cooking both indoors and outdoors. As pots bubble over open fires, clouds of smoke fill the air, carrying harmful particles that can cause asthma, respiratory infections, and even cancer. Beyond health risks, the heavy reliance on firewood continues to drive deforestation, stripping hillsides and farms of trees that once protected the land from erosion and kept the ecosystem in balance.
For many women and children, the impact is especially severe. They are the ones who spend hours each day collecting and chopping firewood, then breathing in smoke as they cook for their families. The toll on their health, time, and wellbeing is immense.
But hope is on the horizon
To tackle these challenges, the County Government of Kisii, through the two Directorates of Climate Change and Energy and in partnership with FLLoCA, distributed 100 energy-saving jikos to households in Boochi Tendere Ward. The initiative is already transforming lives—making homes cleaner, cooking safer, and the environment greener.
“These improved jikos are not just about saving fuel; they are about saving lives and protecting our forests,” said one of the beneficiaries during the launch.”
The benefits extend beyond households. By reducing firewood consumption, the initiative helps slow deforestation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
Through such practical, community-driven solutions, the Directorate of Climate Change continues to champion locally led climate action that promotes equity, sustainability, and resilience.
This project marks another bold step toward a greener, cleaner, and more resilient Kisii County—where communities are empowered, the environment is protected, and development truly leaves no one behind.
“visited one of the beneficiaries homesteads in Boochi Tendere Ward has 100% carbon emissions.”