Energy is a major component of every household in the world today. There are many forms of it depending on the place and region as well as the socio economic status of the users. In Africa, particularly in Kenya, sources of energy are many. The kind of energy used is normally dependent on very many factors among them the socio economic status of the users, the region or locality of the users, the sources of energy available and many more. Despite of all these, many people exploit the non renewable sources of energy such as firewood and charcoal because they are cheap and at their disposal. It has been hard enough to get people onboard to engage renewable energy such as biogas because of the cost that they can incur in making the energy flow. Nevertheless, the livelihood systems notwithstanding, advocacy has been used so as to encourage people to revert from non renewable to renewable.
Much of the Kenyan population resides in the rural areas. Many of the people there do have access to electricity therefore leaving the bulk of energy to be produced by the non renewable sources which are slowly depleting and leaving adverse effects on the environment. It is for a fact that the once large forest and vegetation cover is vanishing as the population increases and poverty levels going high too (Kerekezi 2002). Much of the electricity of course comes from renewable sources but then if the three quarters of the population does not access it, then there is reason to worry because this huge population turns to nonrenewable energy. Being a developing economy, this is a challenge that needs to be addressed because if this trend continues then one can be sure that this won’t be sustainable in the foreseeable future.
The good news is that the Kenya electricity power is very sustainable. It boasts of 80% of the energy coming from renewable sources (Kiplagat, Wang & Li, 2011). One of the renewable is hydropower which accounts for 40% and geothermal power is at 4%. Some substantial amount also comes from solar and wind power. Much of the sources of renewable power are unexploited (Karekezi & Kithyoma 2003). Much of the unexploited potential lies in the biomass based energy which include biogas, biodiesel and also power generation form called baggasse. Due to the fact that there is a high demand for energy in all parts of the country, it is possible that if the government and private investors put their money in the energy sector, there will be excellent opportunities for them to reach out to the people and solve the huge demand that there is at the moment.
Renewable energy generation in Kenya plays a very important role in not only protecting the fast regenerating environment but is also cost effective because it is quite reliable. When properly utilized, communities in remote rural areas will have to worry not about having better livelihoods because then energy will have become cheaper (Deichmann Meisner, Murray & Wheeler 2011). Aside from this, renewable energy best suited for Africa and the Kenyan population in particular as it is best suited for a decentralized rural energy as this is the case in almost all villages in rural Kenya. If locally available materials and expertise will be used, then renewable energy will have been exploited, locals will have found employment and life will have been made easy and bearable for the rural majority.
References
Deichmann, U., Meisner, C., Murray, S. & Wheeler, D. (2011). The Economics of Renewable Energy Expansion in Rural Sub- Sahara Africa: Energy Policy. Vol. 39, Issue 1. 215- 227. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421510007202
Kerekezi, S. (2002). Renewables in Africa- Meeting the Energy Needs of the Poor: Energy Policy. Vol. 30, Issue 11- 12. 1059- 1069. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421502000587
Kerekezi, S. & Kithyoma, W. (2003). Renewable Energy Development: Renewable Energy in Africa. Prospects and Limits. http://www.gubaswaziland.org/files/documents/resource10.pdf
Kiplagat, J. K., Wang, R. Z., & Li, T. X. (2011). Renewable Energy in Kenya: Resource Potential and Status of Exploitation. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Vol. 15, Issue 6, 2960- 2973. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032111001262
