Factors influencing the adoption of biogas in Kieni Constituency, Central Province, Kenya
Abstract
Energy is a major component in all forms of human activity. There is a close correlation between a country's economic growth and its demand for energy. Challenges facing the energy sub-sector in Kenya and other developing countries today include a weak energy transmission and distribution infrastructure due to limited investment in the energy sector. Furthermore, studies and development efforts are mostly geared towards commercial energy. Consequently sources of energy are very costly and in some cases difficult to procure.
Related literature was reviewed from various sources including project reports, previous research findings, books, the internet, journals and manuals. The topics reviewed in the literature were The Role of Energy in Economic Development; The Energy Situation in Kenya; Legal and Regulatory Framework Governing the Energy Sector in Kenya; Gender Aspects of the Rural Energy Crisis; Sources of Energy; Electric Power Supply; Wood Fuel Consumption; Renewable Energy; Biofuels; Biodiesel; Constraints in Biodiesel Crop Production; Biogas; Biogas Digesters; Main Physical Features of Biodigesters; History of Biogas in Kenya; Advantages of bio-digesters and Factors Influencing the Adoption of Biogas according to the objectives of the study.
This study was a cross-sectional descriptive research which sought to study the factors influencing the adoption ofbiogas technology in Kieni Constituency. It targeted a population of 200 farmers who owned biogas plants. A sample of 70 farmers was selected through systematic random sampling. However, 61 of them responded giving a response rate of 87.1%. Qualitative and quantitative data was obtained in the study using questionnaires and interviews. The data was organized, edited, coded and fed into a computer where it was analyzed using the Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results were analyzed and presented descriptively using tables, a chart and a graph.
The findings of the study were that the domestic energy demand and supply relationship and the cost of supplying domestic energy had a positive influence on the adoption of biogas while environmental considerations did not have a significant influence. These research fmdings will create awareness to stakeholders on the use of biogas and also assist in the implementation and improvement of energy policies.
Publisher
University of Nairobi, Kenya