Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi

This paper examines household energy use, particularly aspects related to wood fuels, and tree planting activities in Kirinyaga District, Central Province. After a brief introduction, the first section reviews general aspects of life in Kirinyaga, such as the population density, environmental and economic structure, and land distribution. Kiriryaga is shown to be characterise by smallholder agriculture, though the nature of it varies according to the district's ecological zones. The second section considers how access to wood and other fuel supplies is governed in Kirinyega. Access to land, the amount of trees and other fuel materials on one's land, the ability to borrow and to buy fuel, proximity to the forest, the availability of commercial fuels, and seasonality all influence access to fuel. Section three discusses fuel consumption, including the types of trees and other materials that are preferred for use. The fourth section analyzes how the District and central government, as well as the local people, have responded to the need for planting more trees. A short conclusion ends the paper.