New report unveils the potential of electric cooking in Kalobeyei settlement

SNV and CLASP recently released a new report sharing the project experiences and key lessons learned from the Piloting Electric Pressure Cookers in Kalobeyei (PEPCI-K) project.

The project, implemented under EnDev, aimed to explore the potential of Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs) for cooking in a displacement setting, specifically among mini-grid users. The report offers insights into how EPCs can provide cleaner and more efficient cooking solutions for communities in the Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement.

• Strong interest and usage: Households used EPCs on average twice per day and valued faster cooking, convenience and a smoke‑free kitchen.

• Measured energy use: Monitored EPCs contributed about 4 kWh per household per month, with usage improving after grid expansion ensured a steadier supply.

• Fuel and cost effects: Most EPC users reduced charcoal and firewood purchases, pointing to potential monthly savings when electricity is available and predictable.

• Affordability lessons: Credit plans drew interest but saw high default rates. Better customer vetting, FI partnerships, remote control for pay‑as‑you‑cook, and financial literacy can improve repayment rates.

Almost all (94%) of the 258,000 people living in and around Kakuma and Kalobeyei (including host communities) use either a three-stone open fire or a firewood or charcoal stove for cooking. This has adverse effects on health and the environment. Electric cooking in a mini-grid context can be a low-cost and clean alternative to biomass cooking and contribute to the financial sustainability of mini-grids due to increased power consumption. Especially EPCs are considered well-suited in a mini-grid context due to their high efficiency and suitability for (unsupervised) preparation of staple meals during the daytime. The increasing electrification rates through the hybrid solar mini-grid systems in Kalobeyei, developed and operated by Renewvia Energy, and the Kenya Power mini-grid system in Kakuma town presented an opportunity to introduce EPCs to the host and refugee communities in the area.

Piloting electric pressure cookers in Kalobeyei project

The project focused on gaining insights into the potential for cooking with EPCs for mini-grid users in a refugee setting and the requirements and potential barriers to developing a market for EPCs in low-income mini-grid settings. To do so, the project activities included product sensitisation, commercial distribution (including marketing and end-user training), and testing various payment models for EPC purchases. Simultaneously, the project researched the impact of EPC uptake on end-users cooking experiences and their electricity consumption from the mini-grid systems through end-user surveys and electricity consumption monitoring.

The report presents the activities, research results, and key insights. Overall, the research found a strong product-market fit for household use, alignment with local meal preferences, and a positive impact on end users' cooking experiences by reducing cooking time, fuel costs, and water consumption. EPCs contribute to increasing mini-grid electricity consumption, but a wide range of usage was observed among end users. Hence, efforts should focus on after-sales end-user training to optimise benefits and ensure sustained use. The tested payment plans were effective for initial sales conversion; however, the high total price of the EPC and instalment payment collection remains a major challenge as the tested payment models recorded high default rates. 

 The project activities and results have generated substantial learnings, which informed an ‘e-cooking market development roadmap’. The roadmap outlined in the report outlines steps for sector players to consider when designing and implementing similar interventions.  

 SNV, through the EnDev Market Based Energy Access project, will continue to support the private sector to offer improved and high-tier cooking solutions to the market in Kakuma and Kalobeyei - serving different customer segments, increasing product choice and driving more people to higher levels of access to cleaner cooking solutions.

 CLASP continues to support the uptake and growth of the electric cooking appliances market. The Productive Use Appliance Financing Facility, co-managed by CLASP and Nithio, offers companies the opportunity to access capacity-building grants and procurement subsidies to make high-quality appliances, such as electric pressure cookers, more affordable and accessible.

 For more information, reach out to Karlijn Groen (SNV) or Ruth Kimani (CLASP).