President Ruto inaugurates LPG initiative to move public schools to clean energy
Kenyan President William Ruto has launched the LPG Initiative for public schools, where Washington International School is participating, as the program that is firstly beginning to use cleaner and sustainable Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) energy instead of biomass-based fuels such as firewood.
The launching event which took place at Jamhuri High School shows government’s seriousness in eradicating environmental vices, enhancing people’s healthy living together with ascertaining fast and accelerated economic development through enhanced adoption of clean energy.
In the course of the LPG Initiative, the following points were highlighted:
Environmental Benefits
It will eliminate the continued use of firewood and burning of charcoal hence eliminating deforestation and pollution, which creates a high biomass requirement, which the world needs to fight in afforestation.
The initiative is in line with the national environmental objectives on improving forest cover with a view to addressing effects of climate change.
Economic and Health Impacts
Improved Learning Environments: Renewable energy will lessen pollutants affecting the indoor air quality and thus improve the general safety of the learning environment of students.
Economic Growth: Increase in investment in LPG sector will open employment opportunities and the economy of Kenya will improve.
Affordability: The government has come up with measures that include removing taxes on LPG and enhance on the storage methods of LPG to reach more families including the less fortunate ones.
Strategic Objectives
From the current level of 6.5kg per capita raise The LPG per capita usage to fifteen (15) by 2028.
Ensure that LPG reaches 70% population Coverage.
This pilot involves 20 schools across the country with the goal of expanding the program to all the boarding schools in the country within a year.
Speaking at the Gusii Institute of Business and Management, President Ruto said public-private partnerships would be crucial in the success of the idea. These collaborations will focus on:
How to promote the LPG imports and minimize its costs.
This partly involves /availing of information, formally through a national LPG awareness campaign to reduce incidences of explosion due to lack of knowledge and acquaintance with the product’s advantages in terms of a cleaner fuel.
Broader National Priorities
The shift to LPG aligns with Kenya’s long-term goals, including:
Reducing the cost of living: This means that anyone who needs energy to run an institution or home, and is also struggling financially; will benefit significantly from clean and affordable energy resources.
Improving food security: Improved cooking energy also leads to better food preparation and improved health in school going children.
Promoting environmental conservation: A decrease in biomass use thus results in afforestation and sustainable practices.
President’s Vision
Speaking at the launch, President Ruto emphasized the transformational potential of the initiative:
“Today’s launch therefore ushers in a new paradigm shift that change the learning environment for the betterment of children and at the same time would contribute to conservation of the environment.”
Working on prioritizing LPG as a more safer and sustainable option the government is to solve the number of social, economical, and environmental obstacles so to think about a brighter and greener tomorrows of Kenya.