SOURCES OF INFORMATION, LEVELS OF AWARENESS AND ADOPTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN KEEKONYOKIE AND OLKERI WARDS, KAJIADO COUNTY

ABSTRACT
This study explored the sources of information, levels of awareness and adoption of renewable energy in Keekonyokie and Olkeri wards in Kajiado County. The study sought to find out sources of information that can help guide provision of information on renewable energy to promote its uptake. The study was informed by the ecological model which describes the relationship between individuals and their environment at different levels of interaction. The results of this study showed that the level of information is more on the interpersonal level as the highest percentage of people become aware about these sources of energy through word of mouth. It was evident that there needs to be more effort in promoting awareness and enabling adoption on these types of energy at the institutional, community and policy levels. The study was also informed by the diffusion of innovations theory which explains how over time, an idea or product gains momentum and spreads through a specific population. A sequential exploratory design was used for the study where quantitative data was collected and analysed first, then the results used to inform the qualitative bit. Qualitative data was obtained using key informant interviews while quantitative data was obtained using surveys. A sample of 398 respondents was used for the study. This was arrived at by using Yamane’s sample calculation formula. Cluster sampling was used to select respondents for quantitative data where the unit of analysis was households which were clustered according to sub-locations. For qualitative data, a sample of four respondents were chosen purposively. These respondents included two members of staff from Keekonyokie slaughter house and one from Ngong wind power station and one resident in Olkeri ward. During data analysis, qualitative data was recorded, transcribed and organised into themes then analysed descriptively. Quantitative data was processed by coding the closed ended questions and evaluating the information using the SPSS programme and the findings represented in frequency tables, percentages and graphs. This study focused on sources of information, levels of awareness and adoption of alternative forms of renewable energy including biogas, solar energy, briquettes and wind energy.It was found that word of mouth is the most shared source of information for renewable energy in Keekonyokie and Olkeri Wards. Television also ranked highly followed by formal education, social media and radio respectively. It was also found that that the level of awareness of renewable energy in the two wards increased with level of education. Elderly people aged sixty and above showed less awareness of renewable energy sources as compared to younger adults. It was also found that the most common form of renewable energy is biogas followed by solar power. People had very little awareness on wind energy and briquettes. The study also showed that availability and economic status were the main determining factors for the type of energy people chose to use. The study recommends that it is important to use interpersonal means to educate people about renewable energy as well as the mass media in order to reach a wider audience. To promote adoption of the renewable energy sources, the study recommends that relevant stakeholders should invest more in socio-economic activities involving these types of energy.