On January 26, the International Day of Clean Energy calls on the world to unite for a just and inclusive transition to clean energy. This day emphasizes the importance of ensuring energy access for everyone while protecting our planet. Clean energy lies at the heart of tackling climate change and socio-economic inequalities, offering hope to the 685 million people still living without electricity, most of whom reside in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In Nyandarua County, Kenya, this vision is coming to life. Mornings in this community used to start with women walking miles to collect firewood, their kitchens clouded with smoke, and families enduring respiratory and eye diseases. For 125 families, however, this harsh reality is being rewritten, thanks to the Majuu (Upscale) project—a partnership between Sistema.bio Africa, Shell Foundation, Co-operative Bank, and Mastercard.
This initiative introduces biodigesters, empowering households to transform waste into biogas: a clean, affordable, and smoke-free energy source. Amid rising charcoal and LPG prices, biogas has become a beacon of hope, ensuring meals are prepared and lives improved.
For Mary Wanjiku, biogas has been life-changing. “Before, my clothes reeked of smoke, and cooking took hours. Now, my husband even helps in the kitchen because it’s so easy. We eat earlier, and our evenings are peaceful,” she shares.
Her children feel the difference too. With meals ready faster, they wake up energized for school, and mornings are no longer rushed. “I even have time to prepare their favorite porridge,” Mary says proudly.
Families in Nyandarua are seeing profound financial relief. Money once spent on fuel now supports school fees, farm inputs, and small businesses. Beyond financial savings, the project strengthens relationships. “We finally have time to sit together in the evenings,” Mary’s husband, Samuel, explains. “Our marriage feels renewed. We laugh more, plan together, and even dream bigger.”
The environmental and social ripple effects of the Majuu project extend beyond individual households. Kitchens are smoke-free, clothes no longer smell of firewood, and families breathe easier—both physically and emotionally. Simon, another beneficiary, shares, “It’s a proud moment for me, knowing I’m providing a cleaner, safer environment for my family. We are now respected in our community.”
The Majuu project embodies the spirit of the #International Day of Clean Energy, demonstrating that clean energy solutions can restore dignity, health, and hope to vulnerable communities. However, the global energy crisis remains pressing. With 1.8 billion people projected to rely on unsafe cooking systems by 2030, and 10 million more lacking electricity in 2022 alone, we must act swiftly to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7: access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy for all.
Through initiatives like the Majuu project, the transition to clean energy is not just a goal but a reality. With plans to install over 10,000 biodigesters across Kenya, Sistema.bio and its partners are igniting a cleaner flame for a brighter, more sustainable future.
