Stoves project to provide clean cooking technology in Kenya
The prices of paraffin, which is used by most Kenyans for cooking and lighting increased by more than Sh17 to Sh95 a litre between January and December last year.
Charcoal prices also increased in the same period to Sh49 for every 4 kilogramme. This has pushed most Kenyans to the use of firewood since most of them cannot afford cooking gas whose prices are at least Sh1000 for the 6 kilogramme cylinder.
Reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) links indoor pollution to diseases such as lung cancer, pneumonia, and obstructive pulmonary disease among others.
WHO estimates show that about 50,000 people die annually in East Africa due to indoor air pollution. More than 10 million people in Kenya live in households that cook on traditional open fires in built-in kitchens.