KPC Foundation, the corporate social investment arm of Kenya Pipeline Company PLC (KPC PLC), has today expanded its Clean Energy Transition Programme to Mukuru Viwandani, Nairobi, reaching an additional 100 vulnerable households with clean cooking solutions and strengthening community fire preparedness.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with Vivo Energy Kenya, builds on the successful Phase 1 rollout in Jomvu Kuu, Mombasa, where 90 households benefited, bringing the total number of households reached to 190.
Each beneficiary household in Viwandani will receive a complete 6kg LPG starter kit, comprising a gas cylinder, burner, grill, and an initial gas fill—enabling an immediate transition to clean, safe, and efficient cooking.
The programme is anchored in the KPC Foundation Strategic Plan 2025–2028, which prioritizes scalable, integrated solutions that address environmental sustainability, community wellbeing, and resilience.
Speaking during the launch, KPC Managing Director and Foundation Chair, Mr. Pius Mwendwa, emphasized the importance of practical, community-centered interventions:
“This initiative is a clear demonstration of how we are turning strategy into real impact. We cannot ask communities to protect the environment while they still rely on unsafe and unsustainable energy sources. Through this programme, we are providing practical solutions that improve daily life while advancing environmental conservation.”
He added: “Our goal is to scale this model across communities near KPC operations nationwide—ensuring more families access clean energy, safer homes, and better quality of life. This is how we deliver impact at scale.”
Beyond clean cooking, the initiative also addresses the persistent risk of fire outbreaks in informal settlements.
A total of 105 residents from Mukuru Viwandani will undergo specialized firefighting training at the Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas, equipping them to serve as community fire marshals and first responders during emergencies.
KPC Foundation Manager, Rachel Gathoni, highlighted the importance of combining solutions:
“This programme is about more than changing how people cook. It is about protecting families from harmful smoke, reducing fire risks, and improving the overall quality of life. When communities are given practical alternatives, real and lasting change becomes possible.”
The Clean Energy Transition Programme directly supports KPC Foundation’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments by:
- Promoting clean energy adoption and reducing reliance on charcoal and firewood
- Improving public health by lowering exposure to indoor air pollution
- Reducing environmental degradation and deforestation
- Strengthening community resilience and safety systems
The initiative also contributes to Kenya’s broader climate action agenda and sustainable development goals.
The programme is being implemented in partnership with Vivo Energy Kenya, the distributor and marketer of Shell-branded fuels and Afrigas LPG, reinforcing the role of public-private partnerships in addressing complex social and environmental challenges.
KPC Foundation plans to scale the Clean Energy Transition Programme across communities neighboring KPC operations in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Kisumu.
By integrating clean energy access, safety preparedness, and community empowerment, the Foundation aims to move communities:
- From vulnerability to resilience
- From risk to safety
- From basic survival to improved dignity and quality of life
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