The government, through the Rural Energy Agency (REA), is scaling up efforts to promote clean cooking energy by empowering youth under the Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT) to act as ambassadors of sustainable energy use in their communities.
Chairman of the Rural Energy Board (REB), Jacob Kingu, has urged JKT camps that have benefited from clean cooking energy projects to take a leading role in promoting the use of clean cooking solutions among surrounding communities.
He made the call on May 5, 2026, during a board inspection tour at the JKT Maramba camp in Tanga Region, where the projects are being implemented by REA.
Kingu said the initiative goes beyond energy access, stressing the need to equip youth in JKT camps with practical and income-generating skills.
He highlighted training in the production of alternative charcoal as a key component, noting that it can help reduce pressure on forests while creating employment opportunities for young people after completing their national service.
He added that empowering youth with such skills will not only support environmental conservation efforts but also contribute to building a sustainable clean energy value chain at the community level.
Representing the JKT Chief, Colonel Projest Rutaihwa commended REA’s management and board for the implementation of the projects, pledging that JKT will ensure their sustainability.
He said the initiative is vital in protecting the environment and safeguarding the health of those involved in cooking activities.
Meanwhile, JKT’s Manager for Clean Cooking Energy, Lieutenant Colonel Thobias Ngailo, said 22 JKT units have so far benefited from government funding channelled through REA.
He noted that 30 out of 60 machines for producing alternative charcoal have already been distributed and are operational across various camps.
Ngailo said the ongoing rollout of the machines is expected to significantly boost the production and uptake of clean cooking energy, both within JKT camps and in nearby communities.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to accelerate the transition to clean cooking solutions, reduce reliance on traditional biomass fuels, and address environmental and public health challenges linked to conventional cooking methods.
