Firewood is the primary cooking fuel in many Kenyan schools, contributing to deforestation, air pollution, and poor health. But with electricity now reaching around 75% of the country, there is a great opportunity for cleaner, safer, and more efficient cooking.

CLASP is partnering with Kenyan innovators Ecobora to expand access to clean cooking solutions in schools across Kenya. Through the Efficiency for Access e-cooking project, the team is testing how electric cooking can replace biomass fuels in school kitchens and other institutions in Kenya. This research will inform the design, deployment, and operation of commercial electric cooking technologies and directly impact how schools feed students in the country.

Ecobora’s award-winning electric cooker is purpose-built for large-scale use. This clean energy innovation features a patented thermal conversion system that enables faster, even cooking. The appliance includes a self-cooking function and supports both solar and electric power for maximum efficiency and flexibility. By eliminating firewood use, it cuts indoor air pollution significantly providing a healthier workplace for the chefs and conserves Kenyan forests. When powered by the sun, it eliminates energy costs, so is much cheaper to run.

To date, the project has brought electric cooking to nine schools across seven counties in Kenya, helping feed over 12,000 students. These e-cookers are actively in use and consistently show that electric cooking is not only efficient, reliable, and affordable, but also capable of producing delicious meals, including traditional Kenyan dishes.

The Efficiency for Access coalition is co-managed by CLASP and Energy Saving Trust.