Influence of Community Engagement on Adoption of Electricity Transmission Projects: a Case Study of Ketraco Projects in Narok County in Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to examine the influence that community engagement had on the adoption of electricity transmission projects with reference to the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited’s projects in Narok East and Narok North Sub-counties. The objectives of the study included: to investigate involvement strategies used by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited to build community relationships, to examine the perceptions of the community towards Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited’s community engagement activities and to explore the perceptions and attitudes of Narok residents towards Government’s electrification projects. The study was grounded on two theories; social exchange theory and stakeholder theory. This study adopted a descriptive research design with the mixed methods approach. The sample size was 384 respondents. Stratified random sampling method was used for quantitative and purposive sampling catered for qualitative method. Questionnaires and key informant interviews were used to collect data. Quantitative data was analysed using excel spreadsheet and qualitative data analysed using content analysis. Data was presented using graphs and in narrative form. The study established that the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited employed the use of their stakeholder engagement manual in which weaknesses in its implementation were noted. The findings of the study included limited stakeholder engagement strategies, perception that the company is inconsiderate and that the governement forcefully took locals land for projects. Based on the above findings, this study recommended the following: The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited should engage with locals throughout project implementation process, develop a stakeholders' engagement and communication framework and that host communities should seek and be available for engagement and be active in identifying Corporate Social Responsibility projects in their areas. This research suggests a similar study focusing on the influence of community engagement on adoption of electricity generation projects in Kenya with focus on power generating companies. This would help confirm the accuracy and consistency of this study’s findings.