Decriminalize Charcoal Trade

Decriminalize the charcoal trade (studies estimate that bribes account for 20-30 percent of the final price)

• Instead of lifting all restrictions, the government has focused on legalizing and regulating sustainable charcoal production and trade to curb environmental damage while acknowledging its economic importance.
• Despite regulations, a robust illegal charcoal trade persists, facilitated by corruption and cartels involving state officials. A 2023 report confirmed that fines and seizures have proven ineffective as deterrents, with smugglers simply factoring bribes and penalties into their costs.
• Distinguishing legal from illegal charcoal remains a key difficulty for authorities, leading to inconsistent enforcement that still penalizes small-scale producers.
• The continued reliance on inefficient and low-cost traditional kilns makes alternative, sustainable options less economically viable for many producers. This is compounded by the fact that the price of illegal charcoal does not factor in the cost of environmental degradation, making it cheaper and more accessible.
• Despite a push for cleaner energy sources like LPG, charcoal remains a primary fuel for millions of Kenyans, especially low-income households. The continued high demand sustains the illicit trade, and the cost of alternatives can be prohibitively expensive.