Journal of Horticulture and Forestry Vol. 4(2), pp. 43-48, 1 February, 2012 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JHF DOI: 10.5897/JHF11.071 ISSN 2006-9782 ©2012 Academic Journals Full Length Research Paper Analysis of household energy sources and woodfuel utilisation technologies in Kiambu, Thika and Maragwa districts of Central Kenya Githiomi J. K. 1 *, Mugendi D. N. 2 and Kung’u J. B. 2 1 Forest Products Research Centre, Kenya Research Institute, P.O. Box 64636-00620 Nairobi, Kenya. 2 Department of Environmental Sciences, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844-00100 Nairobi, Kenya. Accepted 29 December, 2011 This study was carried out in Kiambu, Thika and Maragwa districts of Central Kenya. Its objective was to analyze household energy sources and utilization technologies used. Primary data was collected from households using structured and non structured questionnaires. Trees on farm were found to be the major supply of the woodfuel energy where firewood was the main source of household energy followed by charcoal. Traditional three stones stoves were the most commonly used with 76 59 and 65 (household respondents) in Kiambu, Thika and Maragwa districts respectively. Improved charcoal stoves were the second commonly used while only a very negligible percentage used kerosene stoves and gas burners. Over 70% of the respondents were aware of the improved stoves but their adoption was less than 29%. The low adoption of improved stoves was due to their high cost as noted by the respondents. Over 90% of the households had the opinion that woodfuel sources were decreasing and there was a need to develop strategies for its future sustainability. The study recommended integration of woodfuel production to local farming systems and establishment of fuelwood plantations by Kenya Forest Service to substitute on farm sources. It also recommended promotion of improved stoves with higher efficiency to reduce the woodfuel used as well as improve on environmental pollution. Key words: Farmlands, Central Kenya, improved stoves, firewood, charcoal. INTRODUCTION It is estimated that about 90% of Kenyan rural households use woodfuel either as firewood or charcoal (MoE, 2002) and it provides income to over 3 million people (ESDA, 2005). A significant portion of the rural population is employed in wood energy trade and it constitutes a major source of energy in Kenya (Republic of Kenya, 2002a). The Government of Kenya has been involved in promoting tree planting at the farm level with the aim of increasing tree cover to 10% by the year 2030 (Republic of Kenya, 2007). There have been successful tree planting programs involving rural communities in Kenya led by government rural forest extension services and various non governmental organizations (NGOs). *Corresponding author. E-mail: josephgithiomi@ymail.com. Tel: 254 -722496795. Green Belt Movement is among the most active NGOs which have assisted planting of over 45 million trees in different parts of Kenya for the last three decades. Besides being the standard cooking fuel for the majority of Kenyan households, fuelwood is also an important energy source for small-scale rural industries such as tobacco curing, tea drying, brick making, fish smoking, and bakeries, among others. However, despite its importance, the available data is scarce and uncertain which is mainly due to the fact that it is handled in the informal sector and does not pass through monetized economy like in the case of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), kerosene and electricity which are alternatives to wood energy. The energy sector concentrates more on national energy planning for conventional fuels while forestry sector focus more on planning for commercial wood supply and conservation of protected areas (Republic of Kenya, 2002a). These two key sectors deny