Kenya's strategy to reduce fuel costs and promote clean energy

Kenya’s push for clean energy and biogas adoption aims to reduce reliance on harmful fuels and promote sustainable growth. 

Government-backed biogas plants are helping farmers save costs, boost yields, and drive clean energy change

Mary Imenza, Kakamega 

The government has launched efforts to promote the adoption of clean and renewable energy sources as part of its broader strategy to transition from fossil fuels.

This initiative is being implemented through the State Department for Energy under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

The programme focuses on demonstrating and supplying clean cooking energy to communities, with biogas playing a central role in the transition. The BETA initiative aims to improve energy access while reducing reliance on harmful fuels.

This move is aligned with Kenya’s commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. The clean cooking initiative is a crucial component of Kenya’s climate strategy, as outlined in the Kenya Energy Transition and Investment Plan (ETIP). The ETIP identifies various decarbonisation technologies, including clean cooking, renewable energy, green hydrogen, e-mobility, and energy storage, as key pillars in the nation’s fight against climate change.

Through these efforts, Kenya is positioning itself as a leader in clean energy adoption, contributing to global climate goals while enhancing the well-being of its citizens.

Two farmers who have benefited from the project in Kakamega County, led by Patrick Shitekha from Shinyalu, thanked the government for the biogas project, which has enabled them to stop using firewood and charcoal while reducing the costs of electricity and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). “When they did their research, they found me as one of the best farmers around here. They gave me the Biogas Plant as a gift to motivate me and use it as a demonstration of biogas technology to the community. I was the first one to benefit; other farmers will also benefit as motivation for engaging in farming,” he noted.

Once you install a biogas plant, Shitekha explained, the only cost is ensuring there is enough cow dung. He said the biogas provides light in the house and produces enough heat for cooking all types of food. “The gas from the biogas is very efficient, natural, and cost-saving. I used to purchase and refill LPG gas regularly, but the biogas plant has saved me from that. We cook everything using the biogas,” he said.

He also uses the biogas slurry—the waste from the biogas plant—to apply to his crops, reducing dependency on artificial fertilisers.

“I use the waste from the biogas on my sukuma wiki (kale), Napier grass, and other crops. The biogas slurry is very efficient; crops grow very fast, and they do very well, so there’s no wastage on the farm,” he explained.

Another farmer, Winstone Etemere from Ikolomani, said that since the government installed a biogas plant at his homestead, his family has stopped using firewood and charcoal, which were their primary sources of fuel. They also purchased a cooking burner designed to use biogas, which provides enough heat for cooking and brooding chickens.

“I am proud that my passion for farming and commitment have enabled us to benefit from the government, which supplied us with biogas plants for free as a token. We are now enjoying the benefits, as we no longer use LPG gas, charcoal, or firewood,” he explained.

However, Etemere urged the government to support dairy farmers by providing them with the latest technologies to improve farming practices, including the provision of high-quality breeds to increase milk production and machinery for transportation.

In addition to the biogas plants installed on selected farms, farmers are encouraged to visit energy centres nearby to learn more about the technology and other solutions such as solar energy, bioenergy, improved cooking technologies, wind energy, waste-to-energy, and agroforestry.

The energy centres are technical outreach hubs of the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), designed to promote renewable energy and technologies through training, sensitisation, demonstrations, and extension services to raise awareness and support the adoption of sustainable energy solutions.

In Kakamega, the Bukura Energy Centre, located next to the Bukura Agricultural Training Centre (ATC), serves Kakamega, Kisumu, Vihiga, and parts of Bungoma counties.

Other energy centres across the country include those in Busia, Garissa, Jamhuri, Kericho, Kisii, Kitui, Lodwar, Marsabit, Migori, Mirangine, Mitunguu, Mtwapa, Uasin Gishu, Wajir, and Wambugu.