Influence of rural electrification on poverty eradication: a case of Tigania west constituency, Meru county, Kenya.

Abstract

In the pursuit of Vision 2030 in improving the quality of life of Kenyans by the year 2030, a need arose to find out the influence of rural electrification on poverty reduction. This study assessed the role of rural electrification on poverty reduction in Tigania West constituency. Tigania West constituency is one of the five constituencies in Meru North District. It covers Tigania North, Tigania West, Tigania South and Uringu divisions. The study was guided by four objectives which are the influence of rural electrification on job creation, the influence of rural electrification on education provision, the influence of rural electrification on healthcare provision, and the influence of rural electrification on information communication and technology in Tigania West Constituency. The focus was on households that were beneficiaries of Rural Electrification Programme in the region, with information being collected from the household heads only. A sample size was 153 was calculated scientifically as a sufficient representation for a population of 2650 metered households, who were the total recipients of the electrification programme in the constituency. Stratified random sampling method was used to identify the elements to make up the sample. Because there were four divisions in the constituency, the 153 members of the sample were chosen equally from the divisions with each division contributing about 38 respondents. After deciding on the number to be taken from the four strata, the simple random sampling technique was used to get the respondents. The research tool used to collect the data was the questionnaire, administered to the sample. The descriptive research design was chosen because most of the information obtained was quantitative, making this method the most suitable for data representation, with results presented in tables with frequencies and percentages. The study found out that rural electrification enhanced empowerment of the members through information, education and health services among others. People in the community are more knowledgeable through mediums like television and the internet. It was also be concluded that through rural electrification, the quality of life of the people in the community became better, in terms of better health services, longer study hours, access to cheaper communication, easier and cleaner lighting and a more cleaner environment, free from air pollution from burnt kerosene particles