Strengthening Financial Support For The Biodigester Sector

From the month of May to November 2024, a series of targeted training sessions and breakfast meetings were held across 10 counties—Meru, Embu, Nyeri, Muranga, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Bomet, Kisii, Kisumu, and Kajiado—to strengthen financial institutions' understanding of biodigester financing. These events drew participants from neighbouring counties, reaching stakeholders from 15 counties in total. The goal was to empower financial institutions to better support biodigesters as viable, sustainable energy solutions.

The sessions attracted five banks, nine microfinance institutions, 22 SACCOs, and 21 biodigester companies, training more than 300 participants on biodigester business models. Through presentations, case studies, site visits, and networking, participants explored the environmental and financial benefits of biodigesters, recognizing their potential for boosting farmers’ revenue and expanding energy access in underserved communities.

Facilitated by industry experts, the workshops encouraged deep discussions on financial models and tools tailored to biodigester technology. Participants gained insights into integrating biodigesters into their products and gathered feedback to address sector-specific challenges. These engagements sparked collaboration between financial institutions and biodigester companies, with over 280 loans issued for biodigester installations by November 2024, a key milestone in advancing Kenya's biodigester ecosystem.