The Nyeri county government has rolled out a biogas installation programme to provide clean energy for residents and conserve the environment.
The One Home One Biogas project, which started as a pilot in Aguthi-Gaaki ward, Tetu subcounty, will be rolled out in other wards upon success.
The project was proposed by MCA Stanley Wakibia and is being implemented by the Nyeri government.
“This project was one of my campaign promises after seeing the problems that the residents of Aguthi-Gaaki were going through when it comes to energy,” he said.
He said over-reliance on wood fuel has greatly contributed to deforestation.
Energy CEC Muthui Kariuki said the county is planning to move from traditional to clean energy to conserve the environment.
He said the county is ready to work with other MCAs who wish to expand the programme to their wards.
Beneficiary Tabitha Wanjiru praised the government’s move, saying biogas is smokeless and therefore friendly to both the user and the environment compared to firewood and charcoal.
Mary Muriuki said the digesters come in handy as their farm sizes have continued to shrink, making it difficult to cater for their wood fuel needs.
“Land sizes have dwindled and many people around here no longer have enough space to plant trees for wood fuel. So this project will be very beneficial to us,” she said.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga earlier this year said his government was planning to instal 100 households with digesters in Aguthi-Gaaki ward during the first phase.
This, he said, will reduce the use of wood fuel and drastically reduce cutting down of trees for firewood and charcoal burning, which will go a long way in conserving the environment.
The governor said if successful, the biogas project will also be rolled out in other subcounties, especially in the arid and semi arid Kieni constituency.
Edited by A.N