Harvesting the wood causes further deforestation. As the people move to feed an endless demand for firewood or charcoal in Nairobi and other cities and towns, most of the forest cover in Kitui has been depleted.

But the Catholic Church in Kenya, through Caritas departments in the dioceses, is seeking to bring about change. The Church is promoting a variety of energy-saving stoves with a view to stopping forest destruction and climate change.

One such stove is the rocket stove, popular in Kitui County. A standard rocket stove requires 50 bricks, a wheelbarrow of sand, ash and bag of red oxide. With a subsidy from the Kitui Diocese, each stove costs about $32. It also requires a well-trained artisan.

Read more: Crux