Lighting
A total of 41 learning institutions were surveyed in Marsabit County in 2025, comprising 18 from rural areas and 23 from urban settings. Of these, 4 were private and 37 were public institutions. The sample included 5 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, 6-day primary schools, 1 mixed day and boarding primary school, 1 mixed day secondary school, and 28 Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centres.
The average daily student population was approximately 193 in rural institutions and 167 in urban ones. ECDE enrolments ranged from as few as 29 to as many as 340 students, while the mixed day secondary school reported a high enrolment of up to 680 learners. Day primary schools recorded enrolments between 70 and 845 learners. TVET institutions had between 82 and 600 students, with Laisamis Technical Training Institute (TTI) registering the highest enrolment.
Over half of the surveyed institutions rely on local KPLC electricity mini-grids as their primary source of electricity for lighting, powering administrative equipment, and supporting basic learning needs, as illustrated in the Figure below. Other commonly used energy sources include rechargeable batteries, solar home systems, and solar lanterns.
For institutions not connected to the electricity grid, the primary reason cited was the lack of grid infrastructure or connectivity in their area as presented in Figure 18. Other contributing factors included the high cost of electricity, frequent power outages that make the supply unreliable, and in some cases, a deliberate preference for alternative energy sources such as solar power due to their affordability and sustainability.
Category | N | mean | Median | sd | min | max |
Rural | 7 | 4257.143 | 5000 | 3305.983 | 1000 | 10000 |
Urban | 8 | 24250 | 12500 | 30834.81 | 1000 | 90000 |
Cooking
In Marsabit County, 92.7% of learning institutions rely on firewood as their primary cooking fuel. Charcoal is the most common secondary fuel, used by 30.7% of institutions; however, two-thirds (66.7%) of learning institutions do not use any secondary cooking fuel. The predominant cooking method remains the traditional three-stone open fire.
Key factors that could drive a transition toward cleaner cooking technologies among institutions include the reliability, efficiency, ease of use, and affordability of alternative energy solutions.
Expenditures on firewood among institutions vary significantly by location. In rural areas, institutions spend between KES 15,000 and KES 30,000, while in urban areas, the range is between KES 5,000 and KES 13,000.
Where does the institution get main – primary – fuel? | Rural (%) | Urban (%) | Total (%) |
Any supplier (including neighbouring farmers) upon request to supply | 29.41 | 19.05 | 23.68 |
Contracted suppliers | 29.41 | 28.57 | 28.95 |
From own production or collection | 5.88 | 23.81 | 15.79 |
Parents, as a form of fee payment | 5.88 | 4.76 | 5.26 |
Purchase from local kiosks or vendors | 5.88 | 4.76 | 5.26 |
Other | 17.65 | 4.76 | 10.53 |
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