Clean Cooking Revolution to Combat Climate Change - big3africa.org
Access to safe and affordable cooking energy remains a significant challenge in developing countries, including Kenya. Traditional energy sources contribute to respiratory diseases and climate change through deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Awuor Dorothy Otieno has been addressing these issues since 2016 with her company, Nyalore Impact Limited, which provides clean and affordable cooking solutions.
After completing her Business Administration course in 1990, Ms. Otieno engaged in various businesses, including agribusiness. Her passion for the kitchen led her to explore clean energy alternatives when her son introduced her to biomass fuel from recycled waste in 2014. “My son introduced me to alternative clean cooking biomass fuel from recycled waste, and a desire to promote sustainable living and a commitment to solve crucial concerns that many households face daily,” says Ms. Otieno.
Inspired by her research and experiences at the Clean Cooking Alliance Forum, she founded Nyalore Impact Limited in 2016. The company focuses on manufacturing improved cook stoves to address health, economic, and environmental challenges. “In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, I saw firsthand the negative impacts of traditional cooking methods. I started production of improved cook stoves (ICS) to improve cooking in households,” she says.
In 2021, she introduced energy-efficient electric pressure cookers (EPCs), which gained popularity for reducing cooking time and energy consumption. She also launched Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) cooking solutions to make modern cooking equipment accessible to more households.