Promoting the Kuni Mbili stove to ease fuelwood demand in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest

By Steve Kioko

?Surrounded by 54 villages with an estimated 22,051 households, the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest is a vital biodiversity conservation area, rich in flora and fauna. It is home to over 270 bird species, including six globally threatened species: Amani Sunbird, Sokoke Scops Owl, Kilifi (Clarke’s) Weaver, Spotted Ground Thrush, ?Sokoke Pipit and East Coast Akalat. The communities adjacent to Arabuko-Sokoke Forest mostly rely on firewood for cooking. A previous study indicated that the communities collect an estimated 137,000 tons of firewood annually, with a household consuming approximately 2.9 kilograms daily. This heavy reliance on firewood seriously threatens the forest’s unique biodiversity and the valuable ecological services it provides.?

To ease pressure on Arabuko-Sokoke Forest for fuelwood, Nature Kenya, with support from the People Partner with Nature (PPN) project, is providing the communities with improved energy-efficient cook stoves called?Kuni Mbili (Swahili for two firewoods).?These stoves offer a more refined cooking experience. The stoves' chambers?are designed?to retain more heat, resulting in quicker cooking times. This efficiency saves on fuelwood, eases cooking and reduces smoke emissions. Approximately 3,000?Kuni Mbili stoves have?been distributed?in Jilore, Sokoke, and Gede.?

Amina, the chairperson of Bidii Yetu na Kazi Women’s Group based in the area, shared her experience: “Since I started using the?Kuni?Mbili?stove, I have seen several benefits. The stove emits less smoke, which is good for my health. The stove uses less firewood and cooks faster than the traditional three-stone stove I initially used.”?

Despite the benefits of the?Kuni Mbili?stove, its adoption around Arabuko-Sokoke is slow. A recent survey revealed most forest-adjacent households still use the traditional three-stone stove. Some challenges hindering the adoption of the improved stove include cost and the need for more information. Nature Kenya has been conducting awareness sessions to educate communities on the benefits of the?Kuni Mbili?stove, providing training on installation and usage. Nature Kenya is also supporting the communities in acquiring stoves.?