From dung to watts: Young entrepreneur's clean energy

To many people, cow dung and chicken waste are simply waste that needs to be cleared from the compound.

But to Kevine Otieno, it is a source of energy, a chance to create jobs and, increasingly, a means of putting money in the pockets of young people.

From his base in Bondo, Siaya County, Otieno has turned his knowledge of biogas and solar energy into a business venture while training other young people to venture into the renewable energy sector.

He is the co-founder of Greenium Energy Enterprise, a venture he started with colleagues in 2021 before formally registering it in 2022.

His journey into renewable energy began when he got an opportunity to participate in an acceleration and incubation programme at the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre.

“They trained us when we were in their acceleration and incubation programme,” Otieno tells the City Biz crew, who visited him at his workshop in Bondo.

This led to the birth of Greenium Energy, through which Otieno and his team help households and institutions adopt biogas and solar photovoltaic systems.

For Otieno, however, the business is about more than installing equipment. Each project is also an opportunity to transfer skills.

“We only train the youth and other users when we do installations of these biogas systems. The training bit is inclusive of the installation fee,” he says.

The approach has reached more than 2,000 people, including young people, since the company began operations. Trainees gain practical skills in procurement, planning, construction, installation and maintenance.

“After training, some of these young people have gone on to establish their own biogas installation businesses, creating alternative sources of income in a sector that requires diverse skills,” Otieno says, adding that biogas projects require people with different skills at different stages.

Through its Sustainable Green Biogas Project, Greenium Energy has developed and installed more than three biogas systems in Siaya, Homa Bay and Kisumu counties.

The company also earns directly from training. Organisations such as NGOs pay Sh15,000 per dedicated session, covering trainers and logistics. Most training, however, is integrated into installations and after-sales services.

“Most clients that we train are those who subscribe to our services. After-sales services, we do the training,” he says, adding, “We also use the installation opportunity to train those interested.”

The business, however, has not been without challenges.

One of the biggest obstacles is the cost of acquiring renewable energy equipment and installing the systems. For some potential customers, the initial investment can be enough to make them reconsider. “Some people are willing to use these products and services, but when you tell them about the price, they run away,” Otieno says.

There is also the challenge of changing attitudes.

Some people, he says, still find it difficult to believe that waste from cattle or chickens can produce clean cooking energy. “There are communities that have not accepted that you can cook using cow dung or chicken waste. They think that energy is not clean,” he says.

Yet Otieno argues that the economics become clearer after installation. Although the initial cost can be high, an appropriately maintained biogas system can serve a household for many years while reducing spending on conventional cooking fuels. “If you maintain it well, it will serve you well and for a long time; you will end up saving a lot of fuel costs,” he says.

The same applies to solar energy, which Otieno believes can help households reduce their dependence on other sources of power and make energy more reliable.

His work also comes with regulatory responsibilities. Depending on the nature of an installation, businesses operating in the renewable energy sector have to comply with requirements set by relevant authorities, including the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).

Despite the challenges, Otieno remains focused on the opportunities presented by the green economy.

For him, the most rewarding part of the journey is seeing young people acquire skills and knowledge and eventually use them to establish their own livelihoods.

He believes renewable energy can simultaneously address the high cost of household energy, unemployment and environmental degradation. “Having a biogas system or solar system isn’t expensive in the long run. It will be the most affordable thing since it will save you daily energy costs and even save you money,” he tells the City Biz.

From what was once considered waste on the farm, Otieno sees a resource capable of creating livelihoods and powering homes.

His message to young people and communities is simple: the transition to clean energy should not be left to a few professionals. “We can all join hands in making energy accessible and available to everyone,” he says.