Energy Poverty- Consumption and Sustainability of Renewable Energy in Kenya

Kenya is categorized as the only developing country within sub-sahara Africa. Numerous factors have contributed to place the country as such; of key significance is the energy sector. Energy is the major pillar in the economy alongside agriculture, construction and manufacturing, and tourism. The energy matrix is comprised of majorly renewable sources of hydro, geothermal, wind and solar but fossil fuel still plays a considerable factor specifically in the transport and industrial sector. With an installed capacity of 2336 MW, urban areas are better serviced to electricity needs compared to rural areas. Despite improved development in the energy sector, a vast majority of Kenyans are devoid of clean and quality energy, a factor termed as energy poverty. In order to address this disparity, energy consumption and sustainability is studied taking into account the options a rural household has to meet their energy requirements. Focus is placed on the sources of this energy, and the use, and the availability or rate of depletion due to continued use of the resource available to the rural household. Various parameters are included such as household income, availability of electricity, and the annual growth rate of electricity access.

Keywords: Energy poverty, Renewable energy, Consumption, Sustainability