Energy Conservation
In search of clean sources of power K By Wamaitha Omondi
enya has not been spared the effects of the skyrocketing prices of oil. There has been an enormous increase in the prices of food and other basic needs. Under Vision 2030, however, the country has set a growth target of 10 percent per annum over the next 20 odd years and achieving this target, according to the experts, will strongly depend on reliable and affordable energy supply for various activities. A new programme was recently unveiled to promote Kenya’s renewable energy sources, while conserving non-renewable energy sources. The blueprint dubbed ‘Kenya Energy Sector Environment Programme (KEEP)’ aims at transforming the Kenyan economy into a world-class economy through energy efficiency, environmental conservation and restoration. Energy Minister, Kiraitu Murungi points out that the initiative was an action plan by both the government and its parastatals to conserve the environment. Under the slogan ‘Kawi,Uchumi na Mazingira Bora’ the programme aspires to create visible projects with high impact and sustainable social-economic benefits through value adding partners and it will be based on energy conservation, tree growing for environmental conservation and commercial purposes, water shed management, education and public awareness. The minister says KEEP is critical in the conservation efforts as it will be instrumental in addressing the important energy sector while at the same time checking depletion of forest cover without impeding the supply of timber and other forest products.
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“The long-term objective is to improve the livelihood of the Kenyan people through energy and environmental conservation on a sustainable basis. KEEP will specifically promote and popularize the benefits of environmental conser vation and restoration. It will also strive to create a culture of efficient energy use by promoting energy efficient appliances and fittings where investors could invest in tree growing as it has been proven to be a commercially viable venture,” Murungi says. Kenya Electricity Generating Company Ltd (Kengen), managing director, Eddy Njoroge, says that the ten year action plan will steer in mitigating the effects of climate change which is a global debate and one tough challenge of our recent times. Njoroge adds that his company, which is operating within NEMA recommended guidelines, has taken a deliberate strategy to pursue renewable sources of power from its indigenous geothermal and hydro sources. “About 85 percent of our planned new capacity will come from clean geothermal and hydro renewable sources. Pursuing these activities that conserve the environment will also bring additional benefits from carbon credit proceeds,” says the Kengen boss. Kenya is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol and therefore eligible to participate in clean development mechanism (CDM) carbon trading arrangements. Launching the initiative recently, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said that energy by its nature affects all sectors of development and that neglecting its role as a resource and a factor of production can therefore impede the formulation and
implementation of development policies and programmes. The prime minister said: “Mount Kenya, Aberdare range, Cherangany Hills among other water towers are the lifeline of the nation. However, the destruction of more than 100,000 hectares of forest cover in the Mau catchment area is due to illegal encroachment and the total annual revenue loss arising from such destruction is huge. In addition, the Kenyan economy namely energy, agriculture, water, livestock and tourism are closely intertwined with the conservation of these water catchments. Their destruction will impoverish the future generation of Kenya and it is vitally important that we protect them now.” Odinga noted that siltation is mainly attributed to, poor land use practices, deforeatation, sand harvesting and clearing of land for settlement in the water catchments which reduces the capacity of the dams to retain water and the reservoir’s ability to regulate flows during drought. KEEP comes into being as part of the reform packages and policy intervention that will ultimately lead to accelerated economic growth and development. “The government developed a policy direction, legal and regulatory framework which are instrumental in consolidating and ring-fencing the energy sector reforms and it also infuses new thinking into the energy sector that is aimed at setting a foundation for a vibrant, modern and forward looking sector,” the prime minister observed. The use of a collaborative strategy in the implementation of KEEP will be useful in ensuring that the fruits of the programme trickle down the grassroots. . Primarily, KEEP aspires to improve livelihoods in line with national development goals to address poverty through activities such as tree growing for wood fuel as well as for commercial purposes. Furthermore, it is important to instill environmental awareness and efficient energy utilization habits in the young generations so as to build an environmentally responsible generation
