Overcoming barriers to sustainable charcoal in Kenya

The document identifies critical barriers to sustainable charcoal in Kenya, including limited financing for reforestation and efficient kilns, weak enforcement of the 2009 Forest (Charcoal) Rules due to systemic corruption, and low capacity among producer associations to comply with complex regulations. It highlights a significant supply-demand gap, with demand estimated at 16.3 million m3 against a supply of 7.4 million m3, and notes that while alternative fuels like LPG and ethanol are available, they remain accessible primarily to high-income households.

• Charcoal is a critical energy source for Kenya's urban population, with over 80% of urban residents relying on it for cooking. The sector is largely informal, employing more than 500,000 people and generating over US$ 427 million, yet it is rarely included in formal national economic reporting.
• There is a severe imbalance between charcoal supply and demand in Kenya. Current demand is estimated at 16.3 million cubic metres (m3), while supply is only 7.4 million m3. This gap is projected to widen from 8.9 million m3 to 10.6 million m3 by 2032.
• Financial barriers hinder the transition to sustainability, specifically regarding the high cost of improved kilns and a lack of funding for reforestation and farm forestry. The document notes that if the sector were streamlined, the government could potentially collect US$ 60 million in VAT to reinvest in the sector.
• The formal permit system established under the 2009 Forest (Charcoal) Rules is undermined by weak enforcement and a pervasive culture of bribery. Traffic police and Kenya Forest Service officers often prefer bribes over the enforcement of formal permits that benefit the government.
• Charcoal producer associations struggle to comply with regulations due to a lack of technical expertise and fear of formalizing informal livelihoods. Requirements include creating written constitutions, reforestation plans, and documenting tree species and kiln technologies.
• While alternative fuels such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG), ethanol, and biomass pellets are promoted as cleaner options, they are currently limited to high-income households, leaving charcoal as the primary fuel for all other income levels.

APA

Johnson, O. W., Wanjiru, H., Taylor, R., & Johnson, F. X. (2018). Overcoming barriers to sustainable charcoal in Kenya. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/181025g-gill-johnons-kenya-charcoal-transrisk-db-1810h-1.pdf

Chicago

Johnson, Oliver W., Hannah Wanjiru, Richard Taylor, and Francis X. Johnson. Overcoming barriers to sustainable charcoal in Kenya. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2018. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/181025g-gill-johnons-kenya-charcoal-transrisk-db-1810h-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Johnson |first1=Oliver W. |last2=Wanjiru |first2=Hannah |last3=Taylor |first3=Richard |last4=Johnson |first4=Francis X. |title=Overcoming barriers to sustainable charcoal in Kenya |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=October 2018 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/181025g-gill-johnons-kenya-charcoal-transrisk-db-1810h-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{johnson2018overcoming, author = {Johnson, Oliver W. and Wanjiru, Hannah and Taylor, Richard and Johnson, Francis X.}, title = {{Overcoming barriers to sustainable charcoal in Kenya}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2018}, month = oct, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/181025g-gill-johnons-kenya-charcoal-transrisk-db-1810h-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }