Launch of Kenya biogas programme by Els Rijke
Hongera Kenya! The launch of a biogas "hub"
Posted on 29/11/2010
An impression of the launch of the Biogas Programme in Kimende (Lari district - Kenya) by Els Rijke, socio-economic and gender expert for Hivos. The town of Kimende was chosen for the launch of the Kenya National Domestic Biogas Programme because of its proximity to Nairobi and also because it’s a biogas "hub".
Almost thirty households have biogas now and even more in the area surrounding Kimende. The launch took place at a school yard but before that the biogas plant of Mr & Mrs Chege was officially inaugurated. This household is a typical biogas client, having more than enough dairy cows nicely stabled and some land on which they dispose the bio-slurry. They are one of the first to install biogas and enthusiastic promoters. I already visited this household in March this year. At that time the plant was still under construction.
Clear benefits
It is working very well now and provides the family of six with enough gas for all their cooking and heating of water for the cows. As this family was using charcoal and firewood before the installation, the benefits are clear to them in terms of finances, health, but also convenient and fast cooking.
After the inauguration the programme continued at Kimendes Secondary School, where many villagers came as it also had an exhibition of biogas companies, other Renewable Energy companies, and other stakeholders, incl. Equity bank which provides credit for biogas. The Assistant Minister of Energy came to officially launch the programme and together with him some other VIP's gave speeches.
More than 600 digesters
The Kenya programme is doing quite well. It effectively rolled out the beginning of this year and has constructed over 600 digesters so far, which is quite an achievement.
Els Rijke
Socio-economic and gender expert Biogas Programma, Hivos
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