Kenyan Families Turn To Charcoal For Cooking

As global prices rise, the cost of buying gas is becoming unbearable for many Kenyans and the chase for alternatives is leading some to the forests, for charcoal. Making charcoal prices go up from 400 to 700 Kenya shillings, many locals say since cooking gas prices started going up, charcoal demand is on the increase.

Charcoal, an amorphous form of carbon obtained when the wood is burned in minimal oxygen, is proving to be the easiest – yet more damaging – alternative.

In sub-Saharan Africa, indigenous trees, such as the Acacia, provide high-quality charcoal which fetches a good price at the market.

Kenyans protest high cost of living

Hundreds of Kenyans on Thursday July 7, took to the streets of Nairobi to protest the high cost of living, saying the Prices of basic commodities including cooking oil, maize flour, wheat flour and sugar has doubled in recent weeks, putting pressure on households struggling to make ends meet.

Currently, a litre of cooking oil costs an average of Sh407, up from Sh350 in April, while maize and wheat flour prices are now retailing from Sh230 per 2kg packet.

The protestors, who were carrying sufurias, empty packets of sugar and flour, traversed Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) and terminated their protests at the office of the President at Harambee house.

Some protesters who addressed the media accused leaders of failing to address the issue, leaving them with no option but to fight for themselves.

“Our elected leaders have failed us and Kenyans are going through so much and that is why we are here to demand for the reduction of prices for basic commodities,” one of the activists said.

Another protestor said that the government shouldn’t blame the Russia-Ukraine conflict for the high cost of living, claiming that the conflict has just worsened the situation.

“The prices of food were high even before the issue of Ukraine came, we are in this situation because of too much borrowing and the money goes into the pockets of a few,” he stated.

With just 32 days to the elections, the protesting Kenyans lamented that the two front runners in the presidential election , Raila Odinga and William Ruto, are just giving promises instead offering solutions.

“Raila is a friend of the President so it’s just a phone call away, Ruto has been in government for ten years and he is also giving promises, why can’t they help us now? another protester wondered.

Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna defended President Uhuru Kenyatta over the high cost of living currently being witnessed in the country.