Residents of Kisii county who depend on charcoal as their major source of domestic fuel are now feeling the pinch of the charcoal ban.
This is because of charcoal prices shooting drastically in the past one week with a 90-kilogram sack of charcoal that has risen to Sh 2500 from Sh 1700.
"Charcoal is expensive since the ban order was made by various governors. We have to pay more for the same amounts of coal," said Mohammed Abdul, a manager in Kisii town based Hotel.
Charcoal sellers who spoke to Hivisasa said that the commodity was now very scarce.
Small-scale businesses that depend on charcoal like the roasting of maize have also been affected.
"I used to use charcoal worth Sh 100 to roast maize but now I use double the amount," Ms Moraine Kwamboka, a businesswoman said.
Moreover, domestic use of charcoal has been affected as residents have been forced to use alternative sources like using gas cylinders which is very expensive.
In February, Deputy President William Ruto banned the cutting of trees for the next 90 days to help conserve the environment.