READ researchers are taking part in an event at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), UN Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi on the 16^th March which has been organized by our colleagues in the Stockholm Environment Institute and Practical Action.

Event Rationale:

Kenya has recently established a devolved government system that provides for people’s participation in matters that affect them. In the energy sector, devolution (also referred to as decentralisation) offers an opportunity to meet energy needs of the poor and address the widespread use of biomass energy and identify alternative, locally appropriate renewable energy solutions.

However, devolution is not guaranteed to lead to more locally appropriate energy planning. In theory, bringing government closer to the governed in both the spatial and institutional senses, allows government to better understand and respond to the needs of the people. Yet if, in practice, planning remains tightly controlled by the devolved government with little participation of the community, understanding of local needs may remain limited.

For a country like Kenya that has just embarked on a process of devolving responsibility for energy planning to the County level, this is a timely opportunity to understand the energy needs of county citizens and explore how they can be involved in designing solutions to address those needs.

The objectives of this meeting are to:

• Present the results of two projects looking at the challenges and opportunities associated with county-level energy planning in Kenya;
• Engage with experts to share their experiences and;
• Identify some new actions to enhance county level planning processes that will support improved access to modern energy services in Kenyan counties.

 Agenda:

08:00:08:30 – Arrival and breakfast

08:30:09:00 – Welcome and introductions: Oliver Johnson, Deputy Director, SEI Africa Centre.

09:00:09:30 – Keynote address: TBC

09:30:10:00 – Project Presentation: Developing a Participatory framework for county energy planning: Aloo Aineah, Director of Energy, Migori County Government

10:30:11:00 – Project Presentation: Renewable Energy and Decentralisation, Tameezan wa Gathui, Independent consultant.

11:00:11:30 – Coffee break

11:30:12:30 – Discussion

12:30: 14:00 – Lunch

For information about attending contact oliver.johnson@sei:international.org or emmanuel.cyoy@practicalaction.or.ke