Kenya’s efforts toward green cooling continues with the promotion of the use of highly energy efficient, climate and environmentally friendly refrigerants in room split air conditioning systems (R290). Under the GRACE Project, the first two Training of Trainers sessions took place in August, at The Nairobi National Polytechnic, bringing together around 30 RAC Trainers from various institutions in Kenya as well as participations of eight other African countries.
Giving Trainers more influence to make an impact
In August 2025, the GRACE Project rolled out the Training of Trainers program, by hosting two one-week training sessions on the safe handling of R290 (A3/A2L) split air conditioners. The training initiative will enable trainers to deliver and pass knowledge and information on handling of R290 refrigerant effectively to the technicians in their various institutions. The training sessions hosted a total of around 30 RAC trainers from various training institutions across Kenya and a few other African countries.
Ms Judith Cherono, a RAC Trainer and one of the participants in the training stated:
"This training on handling of R290 ACs has been very beneficial because there has been so much anxiety on how the refrigerant would be handled given its flammability characteristics, but now the fear is gone and the technicians I will be training will adequately receive the same knowledge”.
The participants gained knowledge on safety precautions in handling flammable refrigerants with regards to installation, servicing and de-commissioning.
At the end of the training, the RAC Trainers acknowledged being confident in doing the same in their institutions, which ultimately translates to a ripple effect in Kenya’s climate strategy and commitments with regards to green cooling and transitioning to climate and environmentally friendly refrigerants.
The GRACE Project is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) within the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and implemented by GIZ Proklima.
