Joyful Women Organisation (JOWO) has partnered with The Kyoto Network to scale the adoption of efficient community biogas systems across Kenya.
According to the company, this strategic collaboration is aimed at accelerating access to clean cooking solutions, reducing environmental impact, and, most importantly, transforming the lives of women at the grassroots level.
Across many parts of Kenya, women still rely heavily on firewood and charcoal for cooking, a reality that comes with serious challenges. These include long hours spent collecting fuel, exposure to harmful indoor air pollution, and high household energy costs. The introduction of biodigesters offers a sustainable alternative by converting organic waste into clean biogas.
This shift not only reduces the daily workload carried by women but also improves health and safety within households. In this way, clean cooking becomes more than an environmental intervention—it becomes a pathway to dignity, time savings, and economic empowerment for women.
The partnership between JOWO and The Kyoto Network focuses on scaling community-based biogas systems that are accessible, affordable, and sustainable. Through this initiative, women’s groups and schools will gain access to clean biogas technology, communities will reduce their dependence on traditional biomass fuels, and households will benefit from reliable and cost-effective energy. In addition, the program integrates kitchen gardens, enabling families to grow fresh vegetables and improve nutrition at the household level.
A key component of the initiative is skills development. Women and youth will be trained as technicians in biodigester installation, maintenance, repair, and the management of clean energy enterprises.
These biogas hubs will function as centres of innovation and learning, creating employment opportunities while strengthening local capacity in renewable energy systems. This approach ensures that women are not simply beneficiaries of the technology but active participants and leaders within the growing green economy.
This initiative builds on the strong foundation of Joyful Women Organisation, founded in 2009 by Rachel Ruto. Over the years, JOWO has evolved into a national movement advancing women’s economic empowerment through its widely successful Table Banking model. This model brings women together in groups to save, borrow, and invest collectively, enabling them to access credit and build sustainable livelihoods.
The organisation currently has a presence in 44 counties across Kenya, with over 250,000 members and a revolving fund of KES 3.9 billion. Through Table Banking, women benefit from affordable loans, quarterly bonuses, annual dividends, and strong support networks built on trust, accountability, and shared growth. By integrating clean energy solutions into this financial ecosystem, JOWO is expanding its impact by linking economic inclusion with climate resilience.
The partnership is expected to deliver far-reaching benefits for women. By reducing the need for firewood collection, biodigesters free up time that can be redirected toward productive and income-generating activities. The use of clean biogas also improves household health by reducing exposure to smoke-related illnesses. At the same time, women can increase their incomes through new skills and agricultural opportunities supported by bio-slurry fertiliser, which enhances crop yields and food production. Access to training further opens pathways into green jobs, allowing women and youth to participate in the clean energy sector.
Ultimately, the JOWO–Kyoto Network partnership demonstrates how community-driven solutions can simultaneously address multiple challenges, including climate change, energy access, gender inequality, and economic exclusion.
By combining clean energy technology with grassroots financial empowerment systems such as Table Banking, the initiative creates a holistic model for sustainable development.
As Kenya continues to advance its renewable energy transition, this collaboration highlights the importance of placing women at the centre of change.
Through this partnership, Joyful Women Organisation and The Kyoto Network are not only introducing biodigesters but are also building ecosystems of opportunity where women can thrive.
When women gain access to clean energy, financial tools, and technical skills, the impact extends far beyond individual households, ultimately transforming entire communities and contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive future.
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