No one with a good conscience can oppose the charcoal ban

In January 2018, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu banned trade in charcoal outright. [File, Standard]

One of the indices of an underdeveloped economy – a term used to denote Third World status – is the dominance of charcoal in the kitchen. People in developed economies use gas to cook. Charcoal is strictly for grilling meats outside the house in the summer.

Charcoal is being phased out even for grilling as more people turn to gas-powered grills. Four years ago, the Kitui County Assembly passed the Kitui County Charcoal Management Act.