EfD Kenya arranges a policy day workshop every year with researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders, to discuss research findings and their potential implications on environmental policies and strategies. This year it took place on December 21st, 2021, in Nairobi and focused on research done by the EfD-Kenya in 2019/20 primarily on energy, climate change, and water.
Need for energy efficiency
The Kenyan manufacturing sector is the largest consumer of electricity and the second after the transport sector in fuel consumption. This increase in energy use brings about the need for energy efficiency.
Kenneth Kigundu, who is a junior research fellow at EfD Kenya and a PhD student at the University of Nairobi presented his recently published article in the Energy policy journal explaining the determinants of electricity and fuel efficiency. He also provided policy suggestions to improve energy efficiency. Amongst the highlighted determinants of energy efficiency were exporting activities, research and development, top managers’ experience, female ownership, firm size, firm age, and foreign ownership.
Residents want more green spaces
One presentation highlighted a study on urban green spaces. Participants learned that the respondents in this study wanted more parks and green areas to be developed near their homes. Neighborhood parks the size of a football pitch, multi-use parks such as the Uhuru Park, street tree planting, nature parks, forest restoration, and river rehabilitation are some examples that were mentioned. In terms of willingness to pay (W.T.P), it was observed that women had a higher W.T.P., especially for the nature parks. The residents of Nairobi also value Nairobi River highly as they are willing to pay a total of 213 billion for its rehabilitation in 5 years.
Water use needs to be addressed
Finally, an ongoing study finding results on water use in the Kenyan commercial sector was also presented. Members later gathered in groups for a round table discussion with stakeholders in the water sector and identified potential research gaps. It was raised that the non-revenue water needs to be condensed to 20% from the current 44% and projected 52% to avoid a no-water scenario in Nairobi in the next 10 years. Also, a need was put up for a sustainable model of water financing to reduce the over-dependency of donor financing.
By:
Jane Maina