Determinants of biogas technology development and use as an alternative source of energy in Mombasa county, Kenya

Abstract

Biogas is a gas produced as a result of anaerobic respiration of organic matter under particular conditions. Biogas has been promoted in developed and developing countries and in some parts of Kenya more so the central and western regions. The research study focuses on some of the determinants of biogas technology development and use in Mombasa County. The objective of the research project study was to find out how determinants like availability of raw materials, awareness, maintenance and management practices and the availability of funds influence the development and use of biogas in Mombasa County. The research was carried out targeting schools, that is, boarding and lunch providing schools due to their fuel demand, farmers, restaurants, prisons and the municipal wastage disposal agents due to biodegradable materials availability in these sectors (inputs). Biogas development in Kenya, particularly in Mombasa County is moving at a snail’s speed and therefore, the research intends to determine whether the availability of raw materials, awareness, maintenance practices and the availability of fund do influence the development of biogas technology. The researcher opted for a descriptive survey of research design. Questionnaires, interviews and content analysis were instruments used for data collection and the data collected was computed in frequency distribution tables. The measure of central tendency and relationship/association were used to show the relationship between the variables and the development of biogas technology. From the research analysis it shows that factors like availability of raw materials, maintenance and management practices and level of education attained do not influence biogas development, but the availability of funds, promoters and availability of trained personnel/skilled manpower were seen to have a major effect. Thus for biogas technology to take root in Mombasa County the government of Kenya together with the county government should encourage his citizens to venture and invest in biogas by either subsidizing them and even charging fee on landfills. Finally the government together with other stakeholder should promote biogas in schools/institutions and prisons which can then be used to sensitize others to promote it development.