Environment
Residents of Mariba village in Gucha sub-county, Kisii County are witnessing a remarkable transformation. This change, marked by the adoption of cooking gas over traditional firewood, is not only revolutionizing daily life but also contributing to significant environmental conservation efforts.
Speaking to KNA, the sub-county forest officer Abel Osoro that this shift has immensely facilitated afforestation initiatives in the area. “Tree cutting has significantly decreased,” Osoro reports with evident satisfaction.
“A lot of people are now planting trees, leading to a much greener environment,” Osoro further explains that the rampant tree felling for charcoal production, which was once a common practice, has drastically reduced. He attributes this positive trend to the increased use of cooking gas and comprehensive civil education campaigns that have raised awareness about the benefits of this cleaner energy source.
John Nyangaresi, a village elder, echoes Osoro’s sentiments and highlights the improvements in the quality of life that have accompanied this transition. “Using cooking gas is more comfortable compared to firewood,” Nyangaresi explains.
He points out that the firewood previously used was often not dry enough, leading to excessive smoke that harmed the health of many villagers. The smoke was particularly damaging to the lungs and eyes, posing a significant health risk, especially to women spent long hours in the less ventilated kitchen cooking.
Nyangaresi also highlights a significant social change: the once common sight of villagers, especially women and children, spending hours gathering firewood has become rare. This change has freed up time for more productive activities, contributing to the overall development of the community.
“Now, their time is spent on other productive activities, enhancing the community’s progress,” Nyangaresi adds. Annette Sarange, a local gas vendor, has witnessed this transformation firsthand. “I’ve sold more gas cylinders in the past two years than in the entire previous decade since I started this business in 2014,”she shares.
Sarange takes pride in the community’s safe use of cooking gas, noting, “I am happy because locals have learned how to use the gas safely. I have never heard of any case of explosions.” Her business has flourished alongside the community’s growing acceptance of this safer and more efficient energy source.
Despite these positive changes, Nyangaresi acknowledges that many residents still find the cost of cooking gas high, preventing them from fully abandoning firewood. “Many residents still find the cost of cooking gas high, preventing them from fully abandoning firewood,” he notes.
The villagers are now appealing to the government to manage the rising cost of cooking gas to enable them to make a complete transition.