Written By: By Jemosop Faith, Faith specializes in energy, climate, and renewables, transforming complex policy discussions into accessible, everyday conversations, she is a writer at Africa Digest News backed by 2+ years of focused experience
Kenyan innovator Carolyn Olang is leading a transformative shift in her Migori County community by promoting the use of locally-built solar ovens. This initiative offers a clean and efficient method for preparing meals while actively addressing the critical issue of deforestation in the region.
For years, many households in this southwestern Kenyan community relied heavily on firewood and charcoal for their daily cooking needs. This dependence on non-renewable energy sources has contributed significantly to the depletion of local forests, exacerbating environmental challenges and increasing the burden on women who often bear the responsibility of collecting firewood.
Witnessing firsthand the detrimental impact of deforestation, Olang, a resourceful and determined individual, sought a sustainable alternative. Her innovative solution lies in simple yet effective solar ovens, crafted from readily available materials such as timber, aluminum foil, and repurposed blankets.
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Compact, insulated boxes harness the power of the abundant Kenyan sunlight to trap heat, reaching impressive temperatures of 120 to 180°C on clear days – enough to bake cakes in a mere 20 minutes or simmer a hearty meal in a couple of hours.
The benefits of these solar ovens extend far beyond their ability to cook food. For Olang and her neighbors, the transition has meant a significant reduction in the need for firewood and charcoal. “Before, I was using a lot of firewood, and we damaged our trees,” Olang explains. “Then drought would come.
Now we have realized that we are not supposed to cut the trees around.” This shift not only alleviates pressure on local forests but also translates to substantial financial savings for households, with Olang estimating her own expenditure on fuel has plummeted from approximately 5,000 Kenyan shillings to a mere 1,000 since embracing solar cooking.
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These smokeless devices offer a crucial health advantage. Traditional cooking methods using firewood and charcoal expose families, particularly women and children, to harmful smoke, contributing to respiratory problems and other health issues. The adoption of solar ovens dramatically improves indoor air quality, creating a healthier living environment.
Beyond the environmental and health benefits, solar ovens offer a newfound sense of convenience, particularly for farmers like Olang. “Basically, I’m a farmer,” she says. “I’ll leave my food cooking in the solar oven facing the sun and go and farm.When I come back, my food will be ready. But if I was to use firewood or charcoal, I would have to keep monitoring it, adding more fuel.” The ability to leave meals to cook unattended frees up valuable time for other productive activities.
While acknowledging the limitation of solar ovens on cloudy or rainy days, Olang emphasizes that in sunny Africa, the advantages overwhelmingly outweigh the disadvantages. Her conviction and the tangible benefits of solar cooking have resonated deeply within her community.
Olang has become a beacon of change, training hundreds of women in her village on how to build and effectively use these solar ovens. Her efforts have facilitated a remarkable transition, with approximately 300 out of 550 households in her neighbourhood now utilizing solar power for their cooking needs. This widespread adoption signifies a substantial reduction in the community’s reliance on non-renewable energy sources and a significant step towards mitigating environmental threats.
