Adoption of improved biomass stoves in Kenya: a transect-based approach in Kiambu and Muranga counties

Abstract

There is a wide consensus within policy, practice, and academic circles that the adoption of modern cooking options can benefit sub-Saharan Africa. Numerous studies have examined the various demographic, socioeconomic and institutional factors affecting the adoption of clean cooking options. However, most such studies did not properly consider how geographic and environmental factors and fuel availability can affect stove adoption. In this study we use a transect-based approach, from an area of high fuelwood abundance (a state forest) to an area of high fuelwood scarcity (the semi-arid interior of Muranga county) and a peri-urban area with many fuel options (the peri-urban area of Kiambu county). We survey 400 randomly selected households along the two transects from enumeration areas used in the Kenyan national census to understand how factors intersect to affect the adoption of improved biomass stoves as primary stoves. A probit analysis suggests that stove adoption depends not only on demographic and socioeconomic factors (e.g., income, education), but also on geographical and environmental factors that reflect biomass availability and accessibility, and market access. Femaleheaded households tend to have lower rates of improved biomass stove adoption, largely due to lower income and related enabling factors (e.g., education, land size). Through path analysis we identify that such households can improve their opportunities to adopt improved biomass stoves through better access to credit services and participation in social groups. Overall, this study suggests the need for nonuniform and spatially explicit stove promotion strategies informed by fuelwood availability and accessibility, and market access considerations. Such strategies that are conscious of local contexts could catalyze the large-scale adoption of clean cooking options in Kenya, and elsewhere on the continent.

Control System Modification of a 5-kW Pellet Stove: Study and Analysis

“…This way, biomass is an interesting energy source, especially in the abovementioned cases where local economies could resort to this renewable energy [7,8]. Especially interesting is the fact that practically every single corner of the globe can take advantage of some kind of biomass resource, even as a waste, to be used as an energy source.…”

Addressing gender dimensions in energy innovations: A gender analysis framework for informal urban settlements in Africa

“…However, informal settlement dwellers survive precariously on day-to-day earnings [36] and end up spending 15% to 20% of their income portion on energy. Moreover, female-headed households have lower income rates and lower economic shock resilience [37,38]. Low income also translates to lower adoption of innovations in female-headed households and is evidenced in South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia [37,37,39].…”

“…Moreover, female-headed households have lower income rates and lower economic shock resilience [37,38]. Low income also translates to lower adoption of innovations in female-headed households and is evidenced in South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia [37,37,39]. It is, therefore, less likely that a purchase decision that does not address these financial dilemmas will be a priority.…”

Sustainable biomass energy production and utilization in sub-Saharan Africa: A case study of Kenya

“…The low adoption rate is due to informal and often illegal nature of charcoal production where higher material cost, illegal harvesting of trees, increased labour input and lack of skills act as disincentives to charcoal producers to adopt improved technology. In terms of utilization technologies, Karanja and Gasparatos (2020) established that only 38.5% of households in Murang'a County have adopted improved biomass stoves as their primary stoves despite marketing and distribution of clean cooking solutions efforts through developmental programmes.…”