The ministry is involved in helping farmers establish zero-grazing units in various parts of the country. A
good working relationship has developed between MOLD, MOERD and SEP, encouraging wider
dissemination of biogas technology. In 1995, MOLD began direct promotion of the technology through
its extension service. In the Nandi area, the National Dairy Development project is working closely with
CITC to promote biogas utilization as part of its extension service.
Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE)
Right from the beginning of the SEP, KIE was assigned a significant role in dissemination. It was
mandated to develop a local manufacturing equipment for renewable energy appliances with capability
of wide distribution.
KIE has been active in the design of biogas appliances. They also provide advisory and financial
assistance to local entrepreneurs wishing to produce such appliances. The idea was to help ensure that
biogas users had readily available appliances at affordable prices.
KIE has been involved in designing, testing and distributing biogas cookers and lighting systems.
However, it was not possible to assess its impact of technology transfer and provision of financial
assistance to local entrepreneurs.
Private Sector Organisations
Tunnel Technology Limited (TTL)
Established in 1958 by Mr. Tim Hutchinson, TTL is based in Koru, Nyanza Province and manufactures
and distributes a comprehensive range of Hutchinson biogas plants. They range from small, medium
and large scale; with suitability for farms with as few as three to as many as 200 cows. TTL's range of
plants include Continuous Flow plants though Batch Types are also offered.
TTL plants have been widely distributed and are found in different parts of the country. Many of these
units have been working continuously for over twenty five years with no need for repairs or
replacements. Promotion is mainly verbal, spreading from one satisfied user to another. Occasionally,
company personnel attend Agricultural Shows to display and promote the plants especially in western
Kenya.
Apart from disseminating biogas plants, TTL is involved in designing and producing highly innovative
products that use biogas. They include modified kerosene fridges and stationary engines producing
electricity for home appliances. The company is also involved in research to improve the quality of
existing products as well as innovating new ones. To date, TTL has installed nearly 300 biogas plants in
Kenya.
Biogas Africa
Biogas Mrica has been involved in disseminating biogas technology since 1989. The company promotes
the Borda-sasse biogas plant and manufactures most of the metallic components at a workshop in
Kiserian town of Ngong division in Kajiado district. They target small scale farmers who zero-graze
mainly in Ngong and Kiambu.
Kentainers Limited
Kentainers Limited, a local private company based in Nairobi, has developed a Floating Drum plant
made from polyethylene (PE).
SEP trainees and individual entrepreneurs
Some of the people originally trained by SEP in 1983 and those trained later by MOERD
Agroforestry/Energy Centre as biogas instructors have gone into business building biogas plants
especially in their home areas. These people are active mainly in Meru, Nyeri, Eldoret and Kiambu. As
a group, they too have contributed significantly to the dissemination of biogas technology. It is
estimated that in Meru district alone, this group has installed about 80 plants since 1985. The major
drawback to their efforts is inadequate financial resources to set up more effective operations.