Sparking change? Understanding energy use and development in Kenya: A qualitative study
Creators: name: Fingleton-Smith, Edwina
Publisher: name: The Australian National University
Year: 2024

description: The increasing belief that energy is a critical missing link for enhancing wellbeing and economic growth in low-income countries has radically raised energy's profile in the global development sphere. Yet the relationship between development outcomes and energy use is complicated, and in a context of constrained budgets it is vital to maximise the outcomes of energy access programs. To achieve this, we must deepen our understanding of the utility of energy for users. This thesis is based around the core question 'What is the role of energy in shaping development outcomes in low-income countries?' Based on 75 in-depth interviews with people in rural and urban areas in Kenya, it explores how people use energy, how they access energy, and their individual preferences for energy services and technologies in different circumstances and contexts. I first explore how men's and women's roles in society are reflected in the way they use and perceive energy in Kenya, and suggest that there is a disconnect between the people who benefit from energy technologies in households, and the people who purchase them. Gendered roles mean men often make household purchasing decisions, yet do not spend much time at home, thus do not believe they benefit from household energy; this creates a barrier to increasing energy access overall. Using social practice theory, I then analyse the gaps in our understanding of energy use and business productivity. The results show while people are enthusiastic about modern energy, there is a complicated path to traverse before its benefits can be fully exploited. Interviewees had limited ideas for how they could use increased access to energy to improve existing businesses or start new ones. Where people could see productive uses for energy, there were many barriers to achieving those opportunities, highlighting a complex array of factors beyond simple access to energy that drive business decisions. Thirdly, in the face of continued difficulties to encourage the use of modern cookstoves, I investigate the complex decision-making processes behind stove and fuel choice. My findings show that price rather than preference is a dominant factor to the purchase and continued use of cookstoves. These results re-emphasize the need to address price barriers through subsidization. Finally, given the conflicting evidence about the relationship between energy and development in the literature underpinning my fieldwork, and the results from my data that emphasise complexity and contextual nuance, I systematically review the broad body of empirical research conducted on energy, impact, and development between 2010-2019. I found that as a body of research on the impacts of energy, the evidence is ambiguous, difficult to aggregate or compare, and overall suggests there is little in the way of dramatic changes to people's lives or businesses from increased use of energy. Despite this lack of objective outcomes, the most compelling theme to arise from the research is that people feel deeply that modern energy improves the quality of their lives. I conclude the thesis by reviewing the contributions of my findings and providing directions for future research.