‎‎A community-based organisation in Tharaka Nithi County in central Kenya 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 Chair Sarah Mike has shifted focus from traditional tree-planting initiative to briquette production as an 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 realised 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,” Ms Mike said. ‎

‎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 and the project aligns with the organisation’s economic empowerment goals in Meru County and Tharaka Nithi County, 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,” Gubal said.

In support of the initiative, Tharaka Nithi County Forest Conservator Reuben Muigai said alternative energy solutions are critical to achieving national forest conservation targets.

‎“This initiative supports our goal of increasing forest cover as we reduce reliance on charcoal. With about 80 per cent of Kenyans depending on firewood and charcoal, such projects are essential,” Muigai observed.

‎Muigai pointed out that Kenya aims to achieve 30 per cent forest cover by 2032 under a directive by President William Ruto alongside an ambitious plan to grow 15 billion trees.

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.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Dickson Mwiti