COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, POLICY FRAMEWORK AND THE PERFORMANCE OF SOLAR ENERGY IN KENYA: A CASE STUDY OF KALOBEYEI WARD IN TURKANA WEST SUB-COUNTY

Abstract

Understanding the dynamics of solar energy transitions can facilitate the steering of current and future global developments of clean solutions. The literature reviewed showed that while community participation is important for any development projects in Kenya, exclusion of some people is also possible in most of the counties. This study therefore investigated the impact of community participation on the performance of solar energy projects in Kalobeyei ward in Turkana west sub-county in Kenya. The key objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of community empowerment, feedback mechanisms, conflict management and policy framework. The research study used descriptive research study and regression for the investigation. The target population of the study was 3200 households. Stratified Radom sampling was employed during the study with a sample of 320 household heads. A pilot study was conducted to test the accuracy of the research instruments to ensure reliability and validity of research data. Data was processed and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Independent and dependent variables relationship was determined by use of multiple regression models using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Research findings were presented using graphs, pie charts and frequency tables. Findings indicated that there was a positive and significant relationship between community empowerment, conflict management, feedback mechanism and policy framework and the performance of solar energy in kalobeyei ward. The study concluded that most of the respondents strongly agreed that in their area civic education was done to transfer and disseminate knowledge, skills, and values to general public and to promote solar energy project efficacy. The study also found out that there are agencies mandated with the responsibility to create awareness and encourage public participation in the solar energy projects. The study established that community satisfaction surveys are important platforms to enhance the project performance and access achievement of the intended program to the beneficiary. Project team managers and agencies used social media to inform the public on the date, time and the progress of solar energy projects. The study concludes that the county has developed policy to guide development of solar energy and that the county has allocated resources in their budget for solar energy projects mainly for public institutions and households with support of different development actors. The study recommends that there is a need to increase the participation of the community in needs identification and prioritization. More emphasis by the development stakeholders, especially the government and other development partners, on more involvement of the community to assist in community empowerment and enhanced the performance of solar energy in the ward. There is also need to have skills development programmes for youths on solar energy and particularly on installation, operation and maintenance of solar energy systems. This is because there are few specialists in this in the local community hence depending on consultants from other parts of Kenya. Finally the study recommends that the community should be trained on aspects of community action planning, such as coming up with project design, project costing and budgeting, resource mobilization, drawing up implementation, monitoring and evaluation plans amongst other