Influence of the Kenya power slum electrification programme on electricity use in slums in Kenya; the case of Munyaka informal settlement, Uasin Gishu county

Abstract

Limited emphasis has been given towards understanding the different uses to which electricity is used for in slums in Kenya. Despite the enormous populations of many slums, the per-capita demand in informal settlement is quite small compared to that in regular settlements. Reaching slum residences requires a substantial investment in the expansion of the electricity distribution network, but the potential payoff is small. This therefore means that electricity utility companies such as Kenya Power have little incentive to expand their distribution networks to slums. As such the energy needs and uses to which the urban poor employ energy for have greatly been overlooked and thus no clear understanding of the uses of electricity in urban slums. This study has investigated the influence of the Kenya Power Slum Electrification programmes has had on the people of Munyaka informal settlement in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County. The study employed an exploratory research design utilising the mixed method of quantitative and qualitative approaches. A sample of 311 respondents was selected for the study with Systematic sampling procedures being used to select the sample. The study used questionnaires, interviews and document analysis to collect data. The findings revealed that subsidized connection fee was positively and significantly correlated with electricity usage a Pearson‟s correlation coefficient of r=0.818. The electricity marketing strategy and the programme customer training utilised by the Kenya Power marketing team were also positively and significantly correlated with electricity usage characterised by the correlation coefficient of 0.638 and 0.548 respectively. However, programme construction standard showed a negative and significant relationship with electricity usage at correlation coefficient of -0.146. Recommendations for further research have also been indicated