Prepared from the Kenya Energy Crops Policy Review Report for stakeholder engagement, policy dialogue and online publication.
Prepared for Practical Action Eastern Africa under the ELMECC Project by IML Digital (Policy & Digitization Consultant)
May 2026.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Kenya’s transition toward clean cooking and sustainable bioenergy presents an important opportunity to improve livelihoods, strengthen gender equality and expand economic opportunities for women and youth.

The policy review found that women and children remain disproportionately affected by dependence on traditional cooking fuels such as charcoal and firewood. Exposure to indoor air pollution continues to contribute to respiratory illnesses and broader public health challenges, while time spent collecting firewood limits opportunities for education, employment and income generation.

At the same time, the review identified significant opportunities for inclusive participation across the bioenergy value chain including:

  • energy crop farming
  • clean cooking enterprises
  • stove distribution
  • fuel retail
  • agro processing
  • local manufacturing

Youth populations also present strong potential for innovation, entrepreneurship and green employment within Kenya’s growing clean energy economy.

Despite these opportunities, barriers related to financing, land access, technical training and limited representation within decision making structures continue to affect inclusive participation.

Strengthening gender responsive and socially inclusive implementation approaches can help ensure that Kenya’s clean energy transition delivers equitable social and economic benefits across communities.

GENDER AND ENERGY POVERTY IN KENYA

Women Carry the Burden of Traditional Cooking Systems

Across many Kenyan households, women remain primarily responsible for:

  • cooking
  • fuel collection
  • household energy management

Dependence on traditional fuels exposes women to:

  • smoke inhalation
  • respiratory illnesses
  • eye complications
  • long hours spent collecting firewood

The review noted that indoor air pollution linked to traditional cooking fuels contributes significantly to Kenya’s disease burden.

Women and children are the most affected because they spend more time near cooking environments.

Time Poverty and Economic Impact

In many rural areas, women and girls spend considerable time:

  • collecting firewood
  • purchasing fuel
  • managing inefficient cooking systems

This reduces time available for:

  • education
  • income generating activities
  • entrepreneurship
  • community participation

The clean cooking transition therefore has direct implications for gender equality and economic empowerment.

YOUTH AND GREEN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Growing Demand for Green Employment

Kenya’s clean energy transition presents growing opportunities for:

  • youth employment
  • green entrepreneurship
  • local innovation
  • renewable energy enterprises

The Ethanol Cooking Fuel Master Plan projects that expansion of the bioethanol sector could create approximately:

  • 370,000 jobs

These opportunities span:

  • agriculture
  • processing
  • manufacturing
  • retail
  • logistics
  • clean cooking services

Youth Participation Across the Value Chain

Young people can participate in:

  • energy crop farming
  • aggregation systems
  • stove retail
  • clean fuel distribution
  • digital energy platforms
  • awareness campaigns

Youth led enterprises can also strengthen last mile delivery systems within urban and rural markets.

WOMEN’S ROLE IN ENERGY CROP SYSTEMS

Agricultural Participation

Women already play a significant role in:

  • cassava production
  • sorghum farming
  • smallholder agriculture
  • local market systems

In counties such as Kilifi, cassava farming is already supporting household incomes and local agricultural systems.

Strengthening commercialization can further improve women’s economic participation.

Enterprise Opportunities

The bioenergy sector also creates opportunities for women led enterprises in:

  • clean cooking retail
  • fuel distribution
  • cooperative management
  • value addition
  • local manufacturing

These enterprises can strengthen both livelihoods and household energy access.

KEY BARRIERS AFFECTING INCLUSION

Despite these opportunities, several barriers continue to affect inclusive participation.

Limited Access to Financing

Women and youth often face challenges accessing:

  • startup capital
  • agricultural credit
  • equipment financing
  • business development support

Limited collateral and formal financial inclusion continue to affect enterprise growth.

Land Access and Ownership Challenges

In many communities, women continue facing barriers related to:

  • land ownership
  • land control
  • long term investment security

This affects participation in commercial energy crop production.

Limited Technical Training

Many women and youth have limited access to:

  • technical energy training
  • business development services
  • extension support
  • clean technology knowledge

This affects participation across higher value activities within the sector.

Low Representation in Decision Making

Women and youth remain underrepresented in:

  • cooperative leadership
  • energy planning structures
  • policy dialogue processes
  • investment decision making

Inclusive governance remains an important gap.

EXISTING POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS

Several national frameworks already support inclusive clean energy development.

Kenya National Cooking Transition Strategy 2024–2028

The strategy recognizes:

  • health impacts of traditional cooking
  • importance of affordable clean cooking access
  • role of inclusive implementation

Kenya Bioenergy Strategy 2020–2027

The strategy promotes:

  • sustainable bioenergy systems
  • community participation
  • local enterprise development
  • renewable energy access

National Gender and Development Policies

Kenya’s broader gender and development frameworks support:

  • women’s economic participation
  • youth employment
  • inclusive development
  • access to opportunities

These principles remain important within the clean energy transition.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCLUSIVE BIOENERGY DEVELOPMENT

Women Led Clean Cooking Enterprises

Expanding clean cooking systems creates opportunities for:

  • women entrepreneurs
  • local fuel retailers
  • community distribution agents
  • savings group enterprises

Women already play important roles within household energy systems and can drive adoption at community level.

Youth Innovation and Technology

Young people can support:

  • digital clean energy systems
  • online distribution platforms
  • mobile payment systems
  • technology driven awareness campaigns

Kenya’s growing digital economy creates additional opportunities for innovation.

Cooperative and Community Systems

Inclusive cooperative structures can support:

  • collective marketing
  • farmer aggregation
  • access to finance
  • shared infrastructure

Community based systems can strengthen participation among vulnerable groups.

Skills Development and TVET Opportunities

Technical and vocational training can support:

  • stove manufacturing
  • equipment maintenance
  • renewable energy services
  • agro processing skills

This can strengthen long term employment opportunities.

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Strengthen Gender Responsive Financing

Government and development partners should support:

  • women enterprise financing
  • youth startup financing
  • affordable clean energy credit
  • cooperative financing systems

Access to capital remains essential for inclusive participation.

2. Expand Technical Training and Skills Development

Priority investments should include:

  • renewable energy training
  • clean cooking enterprise support
  • agro processing skills
  • TVET integration

Training programs should intentionally target women and youth.

3. Support Inclusive Cooperative Systems

Government and partners should strengthen:

  • women led cooperatives
  • youth producer groups
  • community aggregation systems
  • inclusive governance structures

Collective systems can improve market participation and bargaining power.

4. Increase Women and Youth Representation

Inclusive participation should be strengthened within:

  • county energy planning
  • cooperative leadership
  • policy dialogue platforms
  • investment processes

Representation remains important for equitable implementation.

5. Expand Awareness and Community Engagement

Awareness campaigns should focus on:

  • health impacts of traditional fuels
  • economic opportunities in clean energy
  • benefits of modern cooking systems
  • safe technology use

Community engagement remains essential for adoption and inclusion.

6. Integrate Inclusion into County Energy Plans

County governments should ensure that:

  • gender considerations
  • youth participation
  • social inclusion priorities

are integrated into renewable energy planning and implementation.

CONCLUSION

Kenya’s clean cooking and bioenergy transition presents an important opportunity to strengthen gender equality, youth employment and inclusive economic development.

Women and youth are already central participants within household energy systems, agriculture and local markets. With the right support, they can also become leaders within Kenya’s growing renewable energy economy.

However, achieving inclusive transition will require stronger financing systems, expanded technical training, improved representation and more deliberate integration of gender and social inclusion across policy implementation.

An inclusive clean energy transition will not only improve household energy access and environmental sustainability. It can also strengthen livelihoods, create green jobs and support more equitable economic growth across Kenya.