Assessing the Contribution of Universal Access to Electrification on Rural Socio-Economic Development in Kenya: A Case of Wote Ward – Makueni County (2013-2019)

Rural Electrification Programme is one of the projects the Government of Kenya has invested deeply in rural communities with the objective of improving the social and economic development of those living in the rural areas. One of these areas that has been set aside by the government is Wote ward in Makueni County. However, little is known of the socio-economic impact and do these projects deliver the expected outcome given that they are costly both in design and implementation? The purpose of the study was to assess the contribution of universal access to electrification on rural socio-economic development in Wote Ward, Makueni County from 2013 to 2019. The specific objectives were: i) to assess the contribution of rural electrification on social development in Wote Ward; ii) to assess the contribution of rural electrification on economic development in Wote Ward. The research study adopted mixed research design of both qualitative and quantitative. The population of the study constituted the adult population of Wote ward, Makueni county consisting of residents of Wote, Nziu, Nthangu, Mwaani, Kivandini, Ngamba, Yambaa, Kitheini, & Malivani village. The target population was 267 households connected in 9 villages in the ward. The total numbers of questionnaires dispatched were 300, of which 272 were returned making the response rate at 91.6%. The data was analyzed quantitatively using SPSS and presented through tables, graphs, percentages and means. The study concludes that social impacts of rural electrification in Wote ward have been more pronounced than economic impacts. Economic impacts of the programs are negligible. From the findings, it seems lighting is the number one and almost the only usage for household, yet there are more benefits that can ensue from the use of electricity. Additionally, the economic benefits of rural electrification should be exploited in order to have meaningful development. The study recommends that the Government should be active in defining the fiscal worth of the rural electrification project. The program can achieve greater success with better government planning that would spur economic growth in productive areas such as farming, milk processing, poultry farming, welding, beef storage, carpenter, fish farming and manufacturing. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in as far as assessing the contribution of universal access to electrification on rural socio-economic development is concerned. The study goes beyond the connectivity only and outlines the rural electrification benefits in terms of social and economic benefits.