Electricity Is Reaching More Homes Across East Africa, but Clean Cooking Is Falling Behind

Kenya has earned global recognition for expanding electricity access and building one of Africa’s cleanest power systems, but the East Africa clean cooking crisis now poses the region’s toughest energy challenge.

The latest Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2026 shows that while electricity connections continue to rise, nearly 970 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to clean cooking. Without faster investment and policy action, that figure is expected to reach one billion by 2027, making clean cooking the weakest-performing target under Sustainable Development Goal 7.

Electricity Access Is Improving Across East Africa

The report identifies Eastern Africa as one of the continent’s strongest performers in expanding electricity access. Kenya has played a major role through sustained investment in grid expansion and renewable energy, with geothermal, wind and solar supplying much of its electricity.

This progress has improved household access to power and strengthened energy security. It also places Kenya among Africa’s leading renewable energy economies.

Yet the report argues that electricity access alone no longer provides a complete picture of energy development.

Millions of households connected to the grid continue to prepare meals using charcoal, firewood and other biomass fuels because cleaner alternatives remain beyond their financial reach or are unavailable where they live.

Why Clean Cooking Remains the Region’s Biggest Energy Challenge

The report describes clean cooking as the largest remaining energy access gap worldwide.

Unlike electricity access, where steady gains continue, Sub-Saharan Africa is moving in the opposite direction in absolute numbers. Population growth is exceeding the pace at which households are switching to cleaner cooking fuels and technologies.

The consequences extend well beyond household kitchens.

Smoke from traditional cooking fuels contributes to indoor air pollution that affects respiratory health. Dependence on firewood and charcoal also adds pressure on forests while forcing many families to spend time and money securing cooking fuel instead of directing those resources toward education or income.

The report argues that clean cooking should be treated as a public health, environmental and economic priority rather than an issue confined to the energy sector.

Kenya’s Energy Success Stops at the Kitchen

Kenya’s renewable electricity achievements provide an opportunity to expand electric cooking, but affordability remains a major obstacle.

Liquefied petroleum gas, electric cookers, ethanol and biogas are all available technologies. The challenge lies in their cost, the availability of appliances, fuel distribution networks and household incomes.

This explains why electricity connections do not automatically translate into cleaner kitchens.

The report suggests that Kenya’s next phase of energy policy should focus not only on adding new electricity customers but also on helping existing customers transition away from charcoal and firewood.

That would require coordinated action across energy, health, finance, manufacturing and environmental agencies.

Schools and Hospitals Could Drive the Next Phase of Clean Cooking

One of the report’s strongest recommendations focuses on public institutions.

Many schools, hospitals, clinics and prisons continue using charcoal or firewood despite already having electricity connections.

Replacing those fuels with electric cooking could lower operating costs, reduce smoke exposure and improve kitchen efficiency.

For Kenya, school feeding programmes present one of the largest opportunities.

Modernising institutional kitchens would create steady demand for electric cooking equipment while exposing communities to cleaner cooking technologies on a larger scale.

Hospitals could also benefit through lower fuel expenses and safer working environments.

Financing Remains the Biggest Barrier

The report concludes that technology is no longer the main obstacle.

Governments and development partners have access to proven clean cooking solutions. The greater challenge is mobilising the investment needed to expand fuel supply chains, reduce appliance costs and improve financing for households and institutions.

It estimates that achieving universal clean cooking access would require about KSh1 trillion in annual global investment, with roughly half directed toward Sub-Saharan Africa.

Without that level of funding, progress is expected to remain too slow to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal.

What East Africa Must Do Next

The report calls for stronger coordination across East Africa rather than isolated national programmes.

Kenya has expanded LPG adoption while exploring electric cooking powered by renewable electricity. Rwanda has advanced cleaner household energy initiatives, while Uganda and Tanzania continue expanding LPG markets. Burundi and South Sudan face greater infrastructure and affordability constraints.

Regional cooperation could help strengthen appliance manufacturing, fuel distribution, financing and technical standards.

The report also argues that clean cooking should become part of broader energy planning alongside electricity generation and transmission.

East Africa has demonstrated that large-scale electricity expansion is possible. The next test is whether households can use that progress to replace charcoal and firewood with cleaner, safer and more affordable cooking solutions.

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