The state of Institutional cooking in Kenyan schools.

Every day, millions of Kenyan children eat meals prepared in school kitchens reliant on firewood and charcoal, a practice that harms health (SDG 3), accelerates deforestation (SDG 13), and drains budgets (like the KES 1.5M/year one school spends on fuel alone). At Feion Green Ventures, we see this not just as a challenge, but as an opportunity for innovation. With most schools still cooking over open fires, the shift to clean energy solutions like high-efficiency Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs) could transform student wellbeing, reduce long-term costs, and support Kenya’s climate commitments. The question is: how can businesses, investors, and policymakers collaborate to turn this vision into reality? 

In May 2025, Feion Green Ventures conducted a feasibility assessment across 19 secondary schools in Machakos County, Kenya, to evaluate the potential for adopting Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs) as a clean cooking solution. The results offer a blueprint for nationwide collaboration to replace traditional biomass stoves with efficient, eco-friendly technology ushering in economic savings, health benefits, and environmental sustainability.  

The Challenge: Heavy Reliance on Biomass 

Our assessment of 19 Kenyan schools revealed a universal reliance on firewood for cooking a system plagued by inefficiency and hidden costs. Here’s the breakdown: 

  1. Time Poverty: Preparing staples like beans or githeri  takes up to 6 hours daily, stealing time from other productive tasks. 
  1. Health Crisis: Kitchen staff inhale toxic smoke in poorly ventilated spaces, creating chronic respiratory risks (directly contradicting SDG 3). 
  1. Financial Drain: Schools hemorrhage funds on fuel One of the assessed secondary schools spends KES 1.5M/year on firewood alone, a replicable cost across thousands of institutions. 
  1. Environmental Toll: Deforestation and unchecked carbon emissions sabotage Kenya’s climate commitments (SDG 13). 

The takeaway? Firewood isn’t just outdated, it’s a fiscal, health, and ecological liability. Clean cooking solutions can turn these losses into gains. 

The Solution: Jiko-Kul Electric Pressure Cookers 

The assessment reveals a clear roadmap for institutional Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs) and the potential is staggering: 

  1. Plug-and-Play Readiness: 53% of assessed schools (10/19) already have 3-phase power, meaning EPCs can deploy immediately with minimal infrastructure upgrades. 
  1. Radical Cost Savings: Transitioning to EPCs slashes fuel expenses by 50–70% freeing up over KES 1 million per school annually for critical educational investments. Our flexible payment solutions ensure every school can afford this upgrade. 

We make adoption effortless: 
✓ Pay-As-You-Go: Align payments with your fuel savings 
✓ Lease-to-Own: Upgrade now, pay gradually 
✓ Custom Installments: Tailored to your school’s budget 
✓ Full Support: Installation, training and maintenance included 

  1. Stakeholder Demand: Principals and kitchen staff overwhelmingly support adoption, praising EPCs for cutting cooking times in half and eliminating health-hazardous smoke. 

Bottom line: EPCs aren’t just feasible they’re a triple win for budgets, health, and efficiency. Now, the path forward is clear. The only missing piece? You. 

Conclusion: A Sustainable Future for Schools 

The Machakos assessment confirms it: Jiko-Kul EPCs aren’t just going to improve school kitchens they will redefine them. 

Cost Revolution: Slashing fuel budgets and turning wasted shillings into textbooks, teachers, and tools. 

Health Transformation: Replacing toxic smoke with clean air protecting cooks’ lungs and students’ futures. 

Climate Action: Cutting carbon emissions one kitchen at a time, aligning with Kenya’s 2023 Clean Cooking Strategy

This isn’t a theory, it’s a replicable blueprint. With strategic partnerships and community-led adoption, we can scale this impact to every school in Kenya

Ready to be part of the change? Explore our website and join a movement where clean cooking means: 
• Faster meals 
• Healthier kitchens 
• A greener planet 

The future of school cooking is here and it’s electric. 

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