New York, Sept 2026 – President William Ruto has identified a Sh77.6 billion ($600 million) clean cooking investment opportunity targeting schools, hospitals and prisons.
Ruto said the opportunity is part of efforts to expand access to modern energy and reduce reliance on traditional fuels, with the government seeking to attract private investment into cleaner cooking solutions.
Speaking during a virtual high-level meeting on Clean Cooking in Africa held on the margins of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, the President said achieving universal access requires unlocking capital through local-currency financing, guarantees and other instruments that turn demand into viable projects.
He described clean cooking as critical infrastructure linked to public health, jobs and Africa’s green transition.
Co-chair and International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol lauded the discussions and urged stakeholders to maintain momentum and deliver strong outcomes at the Nairobi Summit.
The forum was also attended by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and jointly organised by the African Union Commission-AFREC, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the US Department of Energy, IEA and the Clean Cooking Alliance.
The meeting reviewed progress on the $2.2 billion in commitments announced at the 2024 Summit and rallied support ahead of the Second Africa Clean Cooking Summit scheduled for Nairobi on 27-28 January 2027, which is expected to announce fresh commitments.
Kenya is preparing to host the summit, an event expected to draw investors, policymakers and development partners from across the continent.
