At the Green Institute, we are proud to showcase the innovative work of our Green Fellows as they take action to address critical environmental challenges in their communities. This month, we feature Pride Nyando, a 2024 Green Fellow and passionate advocate for clean energy in rural Kenya. Through his recent project in Kisumu County, Pride and his team have made significant strides in tackling indoor pollution caused by the use of wood and charcoal as fuel.
Pride, alongside his teammates Silas Ooko and Titus Ayieko, worked in collaboration with the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) to produce eco-friendly briquettes—a cleaner, affordable, and sustainable alternative to traditional wood fuel. This project was driven by the pressing need to reduce indoor pollution, which has led to many deaths in rural areas, as well as the ongoing issue of deforestation due to the demand for wood and charcoal for cooking.
In Pride’s words:
"Climate change is still a pressing issue in the African continent. Many people have died as a result of indoor pollution. Access to clean, affordable, and eco-friendly sources of energy is still a challenge in many rural areas in Kenya. This has led to deforestation to provide wood fuel. We have taken keen interest in this to provide an alternative clean, eco-friendly, and affordable energy source to solve the problem of indoor pollution."
With support from the Resolution Project, Pride’s team successfully produced 500kg of clean and eco-friendly briquettes, which were distributed to rural households in Kisumu County. This project not only underwent rigorous lab and market testing but has also been proven safe, environmentally friendly, and accessible to the communities it aims to serve. By providing these briquettes, Pride and his team are offering a sustainable solution to reduce indoor pollution and protect the environment from further deforestation.
This clean energy initiative highlights the critical role that social entrepreneurship and community partnerships can play in addressing climate change and improving lives. Pride's commitment to creating a safer and healthier environment aligns perfectly with the Green Institute's mission of promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Pride’s work exemplifies the potential of young leaders to drive meaningful change in their communities, and we are excited to see how this project continues to evolve and expand.
Stay tuned for more stories of impact from our Green Fellows as they work to create sustainable solutions in their communities.