DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF SOLAR ENERGY FOR HOME USE IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA
DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF SOLAR ENERGY FOR HOME USE IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA
Geofry Ongeri - Student, Master of Public Policy and Administration- Kenyatta University, Kenya
Patrick Mbataru - Lecturer, Department of Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta university, Kenya
ABSTRACT
This study aimed at establishing the determinants of adoption of solar energy for home use in Nairobi County. The results from this study have helped to understand why few households in Nairobi County are using solar and recommended appropriate policy interventions in making Nairobi a sustainable City with clean and affordable source of energy by utilizing solar energy available in plenty in Nairobi. The objectives included establishing the influence of; awareness on solar energy and alternative power sources, on adoption of solar energy for home use. The research was carried out in the County of Nairobi City across all the 11 sub counties where a sample of 384 households were studied. This sample size of 384 was collected using stratified random sampling method because the target population in this study that comprises of 138,976 homeowners in Nairobi County was already divided into Sub counties. The study was based on the Social Cognitive Theory on the idea of self-efficacy and the Technology Adoption Model (TAM), which has been extensively used in technology adoption studies, and the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) Theory, which tries to explain how, over time, an idea or product gains momentum and diffuses (or spreads) through a specific population or social system. Descriptive survey research design was used where quantitative and qualitative data was gathered. Various research instruments like questionnaires and interview were utilized. The data gathered was analyzed by SPSS which is a data analysis software. The data is exhibited through statistical techniques which include frequency and percentages distribution tables and graphs. Permission was sought from relevant authorities starting with Kenyatta University, NACOSTI, subcounty commissioners and chiefs. Confidentiality was guaranteed to all participants. From the study, the findings indicate that few residents of Nairobi City County have adopted solar energy. This can be attributed to lack of awareness on solar energy as most respondents indicated that they had never received any formal or informal training, not aware of solar technology providers and had never seen solar energy in use. The study also concluded that alternative power source has also deterred solar adoption as 88.2% of the respondents are connected to electricity which is readily available while 87.7% prefer other sources instead of solar. The study therefore recommended to the Government of Kenya and other stakeholders that deal with solar energy to provide training and awareness on use of solar, to avail solar power so that it’s readily available to be adopted, the government to reduce the cost of solar installation and formulate policies that encourage solar adoption.
