| dc.description.abstract | Household air pollution (HAP) emanating from the burning of dirty fuels is the fifth leading
risk factor for premature death and disability in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Additionally, the use of solid fuels such as charcoal and fuelwood continues to exert
excessive pressure on the dwindling forest resources in the LMICs. Adoption of clean burning fuels including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) can reduce the burden of HAP and
pressure on the forest resources. However, Kenya’s adoption of LPG remains below
Africa’s average at about 5%, despite the government exempting LPG from taxation
through the Energy Bill of 2016 to lure more Kenyan households into adopting LPG. This
research assessed the factors affecting the adoption and use of LPG in Gatanga sub-County.
Firstly, the study’s research questions addressed the influence of LPG availability on LPG
adoption in Gatanga sub-county. Secondly, the study sought to find out the factors
influencing LPG use patterns and to assess the potential effects of LPG adoption on the
environment, particularly on forest resources. A correlation research design was employed
to analyze responses to a structured questionnaire completed by 315 respondents selected
through stratified random sampling across six wards of Gatanga sub-county. The
relationships between different variables were tested using Pearson’s correlation analysis
and the Chi-square tests. A paired-samples t-test was used to test for any significant
difference in fuelwood consumption before and after LPG adoption (p≤ 0.05). The results
show that although 49.5% of households have adopted LPG in Gatanga sub-county, only
10.2% use it as their primary fuel for cooking. The findings also showed that a significant
positive relationship exists between the distance to LPG depots and LPG adoption.
Similarly, the availability of LPG delivery services determines whether a household adopts
LPG. Furthermore, household size and household income also influence the choice of a
household’s primary cooking fuel. The study also found a significant statistical difference
in fuelwood consumption before and after LPG adoption. In conclusion, although close to
half of the households in Gatanga sub-county have adopted LPG, its exclusive use is
limited to a few households. It is therefore recommended that addressing the factors of
LPG availability and affordability is critical for the success of the Kenya Vision 2030
Agenda to achieve 35% exclusive LPG use in Kenya. The study further recommends
scaling up LPG adoption to achieve the long-term goal of 10% forest cover as a gain from
LPG adoption. | en_US |
