Policy makers on sustainable energy are lobbying county governments to formulate master plans on sustainable green energy to mitigate climate change effects.
The stakeholders in sustainable energy are now appealing to parliament to pass energy bill already before them to enable devolved units prepare their master plans on sustainable energy since climate change effects are felt in the counties.
They aver that county governments are better placed to address green energy issues in line with national and global energy agenda as climate change effects impact negatively mostly to the rural populace.
A round table forum organized by Kenya Climate Change Working Group (KCCWG) with a funding from CAFORD in a Kitui hotel stressed the need for a platform for sustainable energy policy makers to promote access and use of clean energy which include enactment of charcoal
regulations to promote sustainable charcoal production.
“The natural resource planning is devolved therefore need for empowerment of county policy makers on sustainable energy to address imbalances created by the centralized government and also to highlight Kenya’s progress in the SE4ALL agenda’’, said KCCWG Chief Executive Officer John Kioli.
He said the new energy Bill tabled in parliament if passed will be used to prepare an integrated national energy master plan that will then enable devolved governments to deal with pertinent issues as far
as energy is concerned including energy consumption patterns.
Kitui County government CEC member for Enivronment and Natural Resources George Mulatya said the government is partnering with a Japanese green energy firm to construct a shs 6 billion solar power
plant in Kitui west sub-county.
He said the multi-billion project that has already been given a green light by the county assembly is the first of its kind in the Country and will generate 40 mega watts of power whose surplus will be connected to the national grip.
