AERC Study Calls for Urgent Policy Action to Expand Clean Energy Access for Women in Rural Kenya

A new study by the Africa Economic Research Consortium (AERC) has urged policymakers to fast-track access to clean cooking energy solutions, particularly for women in rural areas who remain disproportionately affected by rising fuel costs.

The research, titled “Gendered Differences in Household Cooking Coping Strategies for the Russia-Ukraine War in Kenya”, found that the war disrupted global supply chains, driving up fuel, food, and fertilizer prices. These shocks, according to the study, have deepened gender disparities in household energy use across Kenya.

Speaking at an AERC side event during the SPARC & Jameel Observatory Joint Conference in Nairobi, AERC Executive Director Prof. Victor Murinde emphasized the need for urgent policy interventions.

“The persistence of high food and fertiliser prices continues to affect the well-being of vulnerable households. This research shows that whereas these shocks begin globally, their effects are deeply felt at the household level across Africa,” said Prof. Murinde.

The study revealed that women, already facing economic pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic, were further burdened by rising fuel costs. Many resorted to switching from kerosene and LPG to cheaper, traditional fuels such as firewood — a shift that increases health risks and adds to the time women spend on fuel collection and cooking.

Key findings include:

• Two-thirds of households that stopped using kerosene switched to LPG, though fewer women than men made this transition.
• Only 8% of households switched to firewood, mostly in rural areas, with women disproportionately represented in this group.
• Women bore greater time and health costs from switching to traditional fuels compared to men.

The study was authored by researchers Onyango Dickson Wandeda, Macharia Kenneth Kigundu, Ngui Dianah, and Maloi Lanoi and published by AERC as a working paper. It also assessed the role of fuel subsidies introduced to cushion households from the economic shocks linked to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Prof. Murinde stressed that ensuring clean and affordable cooking energy for women in rural areas must become a top policy priority.

The Nairobi side event brought together policymakers, NGOs, UN agencies, development banks, and agricultural research organizations. Discussions underscored the urgency of translating research into practical solutions that promote food security, equity, and sustainable growth across Africa.

Go to ECONEWS.co.ke for more sustainability news from the African continent.

Mark your calendars! The GreenShift Sustainability Forum is back in Nairobi this November. Join innovators, policymakers & sustainability leaders for a breakfast forum as we explore sustainable solutions shaping the continent’s future. Limited slots – Register now – here. Email info@techtrendsmedia.co.ke for partnership requests.

Follow us on WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future updates. Send tips to editorial@techtrendsmedia.co.ke