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This study applied a logistic regression model to determine the odds ratio of selecting clean versus unclean energy as the main household fuel choice. This study also undertook to establish the coefficients of the factors determining household fuel energy choice. A large microeconomic dataset from KIPPRA's comprehensive study and analysis on fuel use patterns in Kenya (2010) was employed to carry out the analysis. This study employed a multinomial logit regression model to determine the fuel choices and patterns of cooking fuels in urban Kenyan households. The results showed that in addition to income, there are several socio-demographic factors such as education, gender, and age that were important in determining household fuel choice. To encourage clean fuel use, the authorities should carry out public education campaigns, and ensure the availability of these fuels in all areas to avoid harmful effects of biomass fuels and kerosene, and more modern and efficient appliances should be made available at affordable rates to ensure more efficient use of these forms of clean energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: With depletion of solid biomass fuels and their rising costs in recent years, there has been a shift towards using kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for domestic cooking in Kenya. However, the use of kerosene is associated with health and safety problems. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a clean, safe and sustainable liquid bio-fuel. Plant oil derivatives fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) present such a promising solution. This paper presents the performance of a wick stove using FAME fuels derived from oil plants: Jatropha curcus L. (Physic nut), Croton megalocarpus Hutch, Calodendrum capense (L.f.) Thunb., Cocos nucifera L. (coconut), soyabeans and sunflower. The FAME performance tests were based on the standard water-boiling tests (WBT) and compared with kerosene. Unlike kerosene all FAME fuels burned with odorless and non-pungent smell generating an average firepower of 1095 W with specific fuel consumption of 44.6 g L−1 (55% higher than kerosene). The flash points of the FAME fuels obtained were typically much higher (2.3–3.3 times) than kerosene implying that they are much safer to use than kerosene. From the results obtained, it was concluded that the FAME fuels have potential to provide safe and sustainable cooking liquid fuel in developing countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]