MINISTER for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr Dorothy Gwajima, has said that access to clean cooking energy is a strategic national agenda that stimulates economic growth and promotes gender equality.

Speaking at the Second Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) Women’s Conference, Dr. Gwajima framed the shift to clean energy as a fundamental catalyst for socio-economic empowerment. This initiative mirrors the aggressive push seen across the border in Kenya, where clean cooking transitions are actively reshaping the energy landscape.

For decades, reliance on traditional biomass has not only devastated East African forests but disproportionately burdened women, stripping them of vital economic hours. The pivot toward electric and gas alternatives marks a turning point in regional developmental policy.

The True Cost of Traditional Fuels

In Tanzania, an alarming 81% of households still rely on firewood and charcoal. This statistic closely tracks with rural demographics in Kenya, where the Ministry of Energy continues to fight against the deeply ingrained use of solid fuels. Dr. Gwajima emphasized that clean energy is fundamentally an environmental, health, and economic agenda.

When women are freed from the labor-intensive gathering of firewood, they immediately gain hours that can be reallocated to productive economic activities, education, and family care. This transition restores dignity and opens up new societal opportunities.

Strategic Policy and Implementation

The Tanzanian government, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has set an ambitious target to achieve 80% usage of clean cooking energy by 2034. To support this, TANESCO is expanding electricity access across urban and rural zones, heavily promoting electric, natural gas, and innovative cooking technologies.

• Goal: 80% clean cooking adoption by 2034.
• Strategy: Expanded urban and rural grid access.
• Technology: Promotion of energy-efficient electric stoves.

Overcoming the Cost Perception

A significant barrier in both Tanzania and Kenya has been the perception that electricity is too expensive for daily cooking. However, modern technological advancements have introduced highly energy-efficient electric stoves that rival the operational costs of charcoal. TANESCO Managing Director Lazaro Twange noted the utility is rolling out a pay-as-you-go system for electric cookers, seamlessly linked to electricity purchases.

This initiative not only expands the user base for electricity but increases overall financial circulation within the economy. For the Kenyan audience, this mirrors the success of KPLC's "Pika na Power" campaign, which successfully demystified the costs of electric cooking for the middle and lower-middle class.

“Clean energy liberates women, restores dignity and opens up opportunities within society,” Dr Gwajima stated, firmly positioning the energy transition as a cornerstone of East African modernization.