Bioenergy has emerged as a suitable alternative to fossil fuels with a potential to significantly contribute to the country’s energy targets. However, the well-established fossil fuel industry presents a challenge for the development of a commercially viable bioenergy industry. Other factors such as government policies, financial constraints, lack of stakeholders’ coordination, technical complexities, and market chain barriers also contribute to the stagnation of the sector. This paper analyzes these barriers, existing opportunities to overcome the barriers and proposes a pathway to commercialize bioenergy technologies. The research placed stakeholders of the bioenergy value chain as the focus of the analysis, thus complementing the existing literature, and giving it a user-centered approach. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and interactive focus-group discussions allowing stakeholders to share their experiences and perspectives. The analysis of the barriers to bioenergy expansion helped to identify opportunities to improve policy design and implementation, and address financial constraints and technological difficulties. This study's findings are relevant for developing transition strategies to low-carbon energy futures in Kenya and other developing countries that are struggling with energy transitions.

Keywords: Bioenergy, commercialization, stakeholders, sustainability, Kenya