More than 26,000 Kenyans lose their lives each year as a result of household air pollution, with the majority of homes still relying on harmful fuels such as charcoal, firewood, and crop residue for cooking.

This alarming figure was revealed in a new policy presentation by the NIHR CLEAN-Air (Africa) Global Health Research Group, which links the deaths to the use of polluting fuels in over 76 per cent of Kenyan households.

The research further highlights that household air pollution in Kenya is responsible for over one million Disability-Adjusted-Life-Years (DALYs), stemming from diseases such as respiratory complications and heart conditions.

Globally, over 3.2 million deaths are attributed to similar causes each year, with 20.7 million tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions released annually due to these fuels.

“More than one-third of the world’s population relies on polluting fuels,” the report stated, noting that these fuels release dangerous pollutants including PM2.5, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide, all of which harm both health and the environment.

The education sector is also affected, with more than 97 per cent of schools in the country using polluting fuels to prepare meals for learners.

“A boarding school uses 200 to 500 tons of wood every year. No wood – no meals – no education. This leads to deforestation, frequent disruptions in learning due to energy insecurity, and a health crisis brewing among students,” the report said.

To tackle the growing crisis, the CLEAN-Air (Africa) team has launched several clean energy interventions across Kenya.

One of the main strategies is the Community Health Household Air Pollution Prevention Programme (CHAP-PP), which equips community health workers with knowledge and tools to educate households on clean cooking solutions.

This programme features Module 14, which focuses on household air pollution, and the TABLE-HAP initiative, a project that works through table banking groups to spread awareness and encourage communities to embrace cleaner energy.

Pilot interventions have already taken place in Narok and Uasin Gishu counties, where the focus has been on behaviour change and the adoption of cleaner fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). These initiatives are supported by advanced air quality monitoring tools like Purple Air, UPAS, and Black Carbon sensors, which provide real-time data on pollution levels.

The group has also conducted research between 2021 and 2022 on the impact of switching to LPG in informal settlement schools.

The findings showed positive outcomes on health, cost savings, and environmental benefits, strengthening the case for a transition to cleaner cooking methods across schools in the country.

These efforts have fed into national policy frameworks, including the Kenya Climate Change and Health Strategy 2024–2029 and the National Cooking Transition Strategy 2024–2028.

Presenting the findings, Charles Muruka stressed the importance of turning evidence into action. “We must connect data to policy.

There is a need for joint investment in early warning systems that put public health first.”

The clean cooking campaign is supported by international and regional partners, with funding from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), as the push for large-scale adoption of safe, sustainable cooking solutions in homes and schools gains ground.