In Kilosa, a district often defined by its rural charm and agricultural strength, a quiet revolution is underway and it begins in the kitchen.
Hundreds of residents have turned up, not for food aid or political rallies, but for something often overlooked in development plans: a new kind of cooking stove.
With smiles, queues, and ID cards in hand, they are claiming improved cookstoves offered at a heavily subsidised price of just TZS 14,700 each — thanks to a national initiative under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
“This is more than just a stove,” said Daines Samwel, a local food vendor at Kilosa’s main bus terminal. “It’s a ticket to safer cooking, lower costs, and better health. For those of us who cook daily, it’s life-changing.”
Daines is among the many small-scale entrepreneurs, mostly women, who are directly benefiting from the Rural Energy Agency’s (REA) new TZS 9.4 billion national programme aimed at promoting clean cooking energy.
The project, backed by the World Bank and implemented through REA, aims to distribute 200,000 improved stoves across Tanzania.
For Aisha Swai, a mother and food seller from Uhindini, the impact is personal and profound. “I used to spend over Sh20,000 a week on charcoal alone,” she said. “This new stove uses less fuel, and it cooks faster. That means more savings, less smoke, and less stress.”
At the project’s official launch held in Kilosa on August 6, 2025, District Commissioner Shaka Hamdu described the initiative as one of the most practical steps toward sustainable development and environmental conservation in the region.
“For decades, our people have relied on firewood and charcoal, not because they wanted to, but because they had no other choice,” said Hamdu. “This project is a rescue plan — for our forests, our families, and our future.”
He praised REA for faithfully implementing President Samia’s directive to expand access to modern energy — not only electricity but also clean cooking alternatives, which remain a pressing need in many rural communities.
“Here in Kilosa, we are already seeing the benefits of universal electrification. Today, we add another milestone with clean cooking energy. Our goal is no longer just lighting homes, but transforming lives,” the DC added.
The scale of the problem is immense. According to REA, more than 85 percent of Tanzanians still rely on traditional biomass — mostly firewood and charcoal — for daily cooking.
The health and environmental consequences are severe, particularly for women and children who are exposed to indoor air pollution.
Engineer Advera Mwijage, REA’s Director of Renewable and Alternative Energy Technologies, says the government is determined to turn the tide.
“We are not just distributing stoves; we are distributing dignity, health, and hope,” she said. “This is a national commitment under the Clean Cooking Energy Strategy, and we’re reaching every district — starting with Morogoro, where each district will receive 1,195 stoves.”
The programme prioritises verified Tanzanian citizens. To access the subsidised stoves, beneficiaries must present a National ID, which also helps REA collect reliable data on household energy transitions.
The stoves, supplied by seven contracted companies, are designed to burn less charcoal, emit less smoke, and last longer than traditional ones, a triple-win for users, the environment, and national energy goals.
“This is a very practical, very people-driven project,” said Engineer Mwijage. “It speaks to the kind of leadership we have — one that listens, invests, and delivers.”
As the sun sets over Kilosa, smoke still curls from some traditional kitchens. But now, there is a visible shift — one stove at a time — toward cleaner air, healthier families, and a more sustainable future.
And in the hearts of many residents here, the message is simple: “Asante Mama Samia.”