A community-based organisation in Tharaka Nithi County is turning to innovative clean energy solutions to curb deforestation and address poverty in an arid region long affected by tree loss and water scarcity.
Friends of Mother Nature, a local group founded in 2016 and led by Chairperson Sarah Mike, has shifted its focus from traditional tree-planting initiative to briquette production as a sustainable alternative to charcoal.
The move comes after years of struggling to sustain planted trees due to harsh climatic conditions and widespread cutting of trees for fuel. “We realized that even as we planted trees, many were being cut down because people rely on charcoal burning as a source of income. We had to rethink our approach and provide an alternative,” said Ms. Mike.
The group members identified poverty and lack of environmental awareness as key drivers of deforestation in the area saying while they have been conducting community education on conservation and entrepreneurship, access to affordable cooking fuel remains a challenge for many households.
To bridge this gap, the group partnered with an NGO; Village Hopecore International, which provided a briquette-making machine capable of producing three sacks per hour.
The briquettes are made from locally available waste materials, offering a cleaner and more sustainable energy source.
However, challenges remain, particularly in preparing the raw materials needed for production.
Despite this, the group remains optimistic that the initiative will evolve into a viable income-generating project while reducing dependence on charcoal.
According to Mr. Jillo Gubal, Micro Enterprise Manager at Village Hopecore International, the project aligns with the organization’s economic empowerment goals across Meru County and Tharaka Nithi, where more than 350 groups have been supported.
“We saw this as an opportunity to tackle three issues at once; environmental conservation, clean energy access, and economic empowerment. Using waste to produce briquettes reduces pressure on forests while creating income for communities,” said Ms. Gubal.
In support of the initiative, Tharaka Nithi County Forest Conservator Mr. Reuben Muigai said alternative energy solutions are critical to achieving national forest conservation targets.
“This initiative supports our goal of increasing forest cover while reducing reliance on charcoal. With about 80 percent of Kenyans depending on firewood and charcoal, such projects are essential,” said Muigai.
Muigai added that Kenya aims to achieve 30 percent forest cover by 2032 under a directive by President William Ruto, alongside an ambitious plan to grow 15 billion trees.
On her part, Hopecore International Managing Director Kawira Mathu praised the group’s efforts, noting that the project could serve as a model for other communities, particularly women’s groups, in arid and semi-arid regions.
“This is a practical solution in a dry area where tree survival is difficult. By supporting such innovations, we are not only conserving the environment but also addressing poverty,” said Ms. Mathu.
By Dickson Mwiti
