Fuel Substitution & Traditional Fuel Supply in Kenya - some key points

Background

During the global energy crisis of the early 1980s, Kenya hosted the UN Conference on New and Renewable Energy in 1981, and this resulted in the following recommendations:

- Increased supply of biomass through afforestation
- Encourage interfuel substitution
- Establishment of improved stove programmes


Since then, the use of modern fuels has increased, and Kerosene and LPG have become increasingly popular as alternatives to, or in addition to, woodfuel and charcoal. By the late 1990s, a far greater variety of fuels were on offer and being used by Kenya's households.

Proportions of households in Kenya using various fuel mixes
Rural% Urban% National*%
Kerosene & firewood 50.8 2.5 35.1
Kerosene, charcoal & firewood 38.8 13.6 30.6
Kerosene & charcoal 0.4 29.6 9.9
Electricity, kerosene & charcoal 0.4 24.4 8.2
Electricity, LPG, kerosene & charcoal 0 10.4 3.4
Electricity, LPG & charcoal 0 2.7 0.9
Electricity & charcoal 0 2.7 0.9
Other mixes 9.6 14.1 11
* Weighted national means
Source: Nyang, F.O. 1999: Household Energy Demand and Environmental Mgmt in Kenya PhD thesis
Actors involved in biomass supply in Nairobi
  
In November 2001, a stakeholder workshop was held in Nairobi - for more information, click here

Kenyan project team
  
Carrying wood to Nairobi & a charcoal vendor