The effects of Climate change are adversely affecting the livelihoods of the poor communities in Kenya. The majority of this being smallholder farmers whose livelihoods are dependent on agriculture and sound natural resource management. The poor; women and the youth are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. These vulnerable groups often use unstainable means to cope and or mitigate climate change effects further worsening the situation.
In the recent years communities living in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) have been experiencing prolonged drought and high temperatures. Their food security is threatened and those engaged in entrepreneurial agriculture are spending a lot on gasoline pumps to water their crops and animals. The gasoline pumps are not only expensive to maintain but are also responsible for high carbon emission to the atmosphere. A study to determine carbon emitted from three common categories of diesel and electric on-farm irrigation pumps in Egypt at El-Behera Governorate by applying environmental, economic and social indicators revealed that pumping 1 m3 of water for irrigation the crops produces an average of 690-ton CO2.
This project therefore proposes to use Solar Powered irrigation System (SPSI)
Although Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS) are not new as a technology in agriculture having been introduced in 1970s, various studies conducted on them indicates that they are more efficient and produce almost zero CO2 in the at atmosphere. There is a lot of innovations and improvement since their introduction as well.
The project will also promote use of renewable energy among the rural household. This will focus on Solar PV which has become affordable due to innovations and improvements in the energy sector. In the target areas, many families are still using traditional lamb some of which posse health risks. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has projected a 59 percent cost reduction for electricity going by the adoption trend of solar PV by 2025 this will enhance adoption even further.
Access to electricity in Kenya is still low despite the government?s ambitious program targeting to increase electricity connectivity from the current 15% to at least 65% by the year 2022. Use of electricity in urban areas as the source of lighting serves 42% of the households; although kerosene lamps remain the main source of lighting for 55% of households. In rural areas Kerosene is commonly used for lighting serving about 87%households
The project will promote production and marketing fuel briquets among participating households. The briquets will be made mainly from plant residues thus making the raw materials readily available. They are also proven to be environmentally friendly sine they carbon emission is low. Market linkages will be supported to enhance household income.

This project will work in collaboration and partnerships with both in agriculture and the energy sector to provide linkages and synergy. In agriculture focus will be in supporting communities to establish agricultural value chains the will ensure improved food sustenance and entrepreneurial development while the energy sector will more geared towards entrepreneurship. The project will be implemented in two Counties of Makueni and Machakos targeting 1,500 on renewable energy and irrigated agriculture using solar pumps.