Homes Owners face jail for not installing solar power/ Business daily 21st April 2017

The energy (solar heating regulation) regulation of 2012 under section 3 provide that “All premises within the jurisdiction of a local authority with hot water requirements

of a capacity exceeding one hundred litres per day shall install and use solar heating

systems”. This was to be enforced 5 years after the regulation was signed into law and the five window has lapsed this year.

Reports from the Energy Regulatory Commission have indicated that only a handful of buildings have complied and thus most of the buildings have been served with notices and others are in court for non-compliance.

These regulations are being implemented at a period when the world is very keen on embracing clean and renewable energy. The embracing solar as an alternative for heating water will reduce the cost of energy in households and also promote conservation of the energy. One of the main challenges that has been cited as a hindrance to the implementation of the regulation is the high cost of solar panels. It is however important to note that the government has made effort by removing duty on importation of solar products although there are still exists challenges in the taxation of solar accessories. KCIC has been vocal in monitoring the taxation policy of solar products in an effort to encourage the use of solar energy as an alternative source of energy.

Acute water Scarcity in Nairobi despite the Rains /Daily Nation

Nairobi and its environs has experienced water shortages for the past months. This has been caused by the low water levels and ndakaini dam which provides water to Nairobi and its environs. Climate change has affected the weather patterns and thus the rains have not been sufficient to supply to ensure sufficient supply of water.
As much as there is water shortage and reduced water levels at the main water source, it is evident there are no deliberate efforts to conserve water in the capital city and its environs.  Among the efforts of mitigation and adaptation in water should be deliberate efforts for water management and conservation which have not been seen. Water recycling, rain water harvesting among other strategies should be adopted by the residents to ensure there exists deliberate efforts to cab the water shortages experienced from time to time. Kenya Climate Innovation Centre will be making effort to promote innovations in water management so as to promote the conservation of water.

Solar Concentrator takes fuel pressure off Kenya’s forests / Daily nation/ April 18 2017

In an effort to mitigate on the effects of climate change World vision has partnered with Wartisila and a solar fire concentration company which is a global leader in advance technologies. The aim of this partnership is to provide an alternative to conventional energy for cooking while transforming agriculture and food production. The company is using Gosol product to harvest energy from sun. The Gosol uses locally available products to produce energy approximately 6kW for 6 hours in a normal day.

The piloting stage of the technology has proved to be a simple efficient and cheap technology for providing heat in household and even in commercial premises. The project is targeted to the benefit Kisumu and Siaya County.

One thing evident today is the embracing of technology to solve social problems. One of the biggest challenges that is faced by the rural community is the availability of alternative energy for cooking and lighting. When innovations are targeted towards the rural community then this communicates an all rounded economic development.

Nuclear solution to supply water hitches. Daily nation, April /18/2017

Nuclear energy has been up for discussion for a while now in Kenya there have been questions of the advantages of adopting the use of nuclear energy versus the dangers that come with nuclear energy. With the continued effects of climate change water shortages will continue to be experienced and if there are no strategies for adapting and mitigating climate change effects then water may be the next biggest course of conflict internationally. Experts have indicated that nuclear energy can be used for desalination of water and especially water from the ocean. Despite this suggested technology being attractive what remains unclear is the use of nuclear energy.

Kenya Climate Innovation Centre will be keen on being part of the conversation and research on to the consideration of nuclear energy as an alternative source of energy in the country whether for water purification or otherwise.

Climate change the missing link in Vision 2013/Business daily

Developing countries cannot ignore the conversation on climate change. Especially now with the increase in the emission of greenhouse gases. The effects of climate change that developing countries like Kenya face are very adverse and there has to be deliberate effort to avert the effects climate change.

Although Kenya was not able to fully achieve the targets of the MDGs, the economy of the country has been growing and this includes advancements in the political and social aspects in the country.  When the Kenya Vision 2030 was drawn climate change was not factored as one of the aspects that would affect the achievement of the vision 2030. Despite this the country is now alive to the effects of climate change and efforts are being made to make climate change a major agenda in development in Kenya.  Efforts are currently being made to mainstream climate change into the Medium Term Plan 3.

KCIC has been spear heading discussions on mainstreaming of climate change into the MTP 3 in an effort to promote sustainable development in Kenya.