The Kenyan Government through the Ministry of Energy (MOE) has launched the Kenya Bioenergy Strategy placing Kenya firmly on track towards achieving 100% access to modern bioenergy services including clean cooking by 2028.
This is two years ahead of the schedule set in the Kenya Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll) Action Agenda. Under the theme of sustainable bioenergy for all by 2028, the Strategy outlines Improvements in the bioenergy sector which will play a critical role in achieving these targets through sustainable production and efficient use of biomass, waste to energy conversion and development of biofuels.
Bioenergy is an important form of energy for Kenya, contributing to 68 per cent of the country’s final energy demand for diverse needs especially cooking and heating. As a renewable energy source, it can contribute to energy security and to meeting national goals covered under Vision 2030.
Energy is an enabler of key sectors including agriculture, health and commerce. However, bioenergy potential in Kenya has not been fully exploited yet and establishing sustainable production, efficient conversion/processing and use is key to maximizing the use of this resource.
The development of this Strategy is the culmination of extensive and elaborate expert consultation and multi-stakeholder dialogue processes that commenced in 2018. Some of the partners involved in the development include Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), the World Bank, GIZ, ICRAF, representatives from academia and civil society actors.
This Strategy is being launched at a time when the world is turning its attention to health concerns attributed to cooking fuels both at household and institutional level. Kenya is a testimony of these, with respiratory-related diseases being 25% of the total burden of disease reported by the Economic Survey in 2019. The strategy also comes at a time when a range of local and international financing opportunities is available for clean cooking and climate finance. Further, energy-intensive industries are switching to bioenergy sources, as part of their energy efficiency measures.
The goal of this Strategy is “sustainable bioenergy for all” by 2028 with specific objectives being to:
Promote the sustainable production and consumption of bioenergy;
Accelerate transition to clean cooking technologies and fuels;
Provide potential investors with requisite information on viable opportunities for bioenergy development in Kenya; and
Serve as a framework for regional and international cooperation and trade in bioenergy and related feedstock.
