An Analysis of Determinants of Adoption of Clean Energy Cooking Technologies and Energy Sources in Kibera, Nairobi County - Kenya

Abstract

Acknowledgement of the effects of climate change on the planet over the last 3 decades led to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (U.N.F.C.C.C.) and the Kenyan government to champion for climate change mitigation. One of the mechanisms identified by the government towards climate change mitigation was the increased use of clean energy technologies (CETs). These are technologies that have a significantly lower effect on the environment than their alternatives. At the household level, the clean energy technologies are mostly used for cooking and lighting purposes and they play a role in improving the welfare of the household members through improved fuel efficiency and lower energy costs. Though these technologies are available, their adoption has been low even as demand for energy is continuously increasing. This study aimed at characterizing the different clean energy technologies used for cooking and assessing the unique factors that influence the decision to adopt multiple clean energy cooking technologies. The study was based on the Random Utility Model (RUM) and was supported by the energy stack model. Multistage sampling was used to get a sample of 378 respondents in Kibera; a low income and densely populated area in the outskirts of Nairobi. The Kenya ceramic jiko was found to be the most adopted cooking technology while charcoal was found to be the most used cooking energy source. The key decisions on cooking technologies and energy sources adopted by the household were made by both male and female members in varying proportions. The adoption decisions of cooking technologies were found to be influenced by a variety of technologies’ traits. Using the Poisson regression model, the sex of the individual who did most of the cooking was found to be a statistically significant factor in the adoption of multiple clean energy cooking technologies. The prices of the cooking technologies, as well as the prices of the cooking energy sources, were also found to have a statistically significant effect on the adoption of multiple cooking technologies. To facilitate the adoption of clean energy cooking technologies (CECTs), the

study advocates for regulation of clean energy cooking technologies and energy source prices to make them more affordable to the low-income earners. Investment in the innovation of cheaper and cleaner cooking technologies is also recommended to encourage further adoption. The study also recommends the improvement of access to the CECTs in the area through clean energy entrepreneurship programs in the area and this will facilitate economic empowerment; making them more likely to finance a portion of the energy needs of the household.