On Saturday the 25th May, the Africa Day 2019, young Kenyans, conservationists, and activists participated in a 15KM walk asking the government and private developers to stop mining coal as part of advocating for a fossil-free continent.
We are in a period where the world is shifting towards clean energy. Governments are committing to close down coal power plants. This is the same message conservationists in Kenya want the government to adopt by shutting down coal mining in Kitui and Kwale counties.
Kenya is endowed with massive natural resources for generating renewable energy. Several parts of the country can survive with solar power panels throughout the year. Wind power generation is possible; Ngong hills and Turkana wind power plants are in operation.
With an estimated potential capacity of 7,000 MW to 10,000 MW geothermal resources throughout Rift Valley clearly shows with the right strategies in place, Kenya can depend entirely on geothermal power going by the current demand for electricity of about 2000MW and an estimated 3500MW by 2020.
Fossil fuels are not only non-renewable but also pose environmental and health implications that is the reason we need to phase them out and adopt renewable energy sources.
The combustion of fossil fuels emits carbon particles that accumulate in the atmosphere affecting the air quality and trapping heat energy leading to increased atmospheric temperatures hence global warming.
Reduced air quality increases the chances of respiratory diseases and affects the normal functioning of plants and animals.
We need to say no to fossil fuels if we care about our current and future generations enjoying equal rights to utilize environmental resources.
