Green Energy for Sustainable Rural Development: a gender perspective focusing on women participation, in Kisumu West Sub-County, Kenya. 

Abstract

Energy services undoubtedly help alleviate poverty and stimulate economic development. The accessibility of renewables at affordable prices would lighten the women’s workload and create new roles that lead to economic growth as well as making the women economically independent. This study sought to explore the factors influencing participation of women in green energy schemes for sustainable rural development in Kisumu West Sub-County.The study targeted 494 Women Groups in Kisumu West Sub -County and the Women Group members as primary respondents. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study in which simple random sampling method was used to identify 10 Women Self Help Groups as units of analysis and 200 respondents who were included in the study. Data was collected through questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) guides while data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive statistics and presented specifically through, tables, frequency counts and percentages. The findings revealed some of the green energy related activities in which the women are engaged as biogas technology, fireless cookers/energy saving jikos (g charcoal among others. The findings further revealed age, level of education, family size, employment status as some of the factors greatly influencing women participation in green energy schemes while most critical challenges to participation include lack of a repertoire of skills and lack of capital infusion among others. Based on the findings the study recommends among others that participation of the Women Groups be sustained by capacity development through, seminars, workshops and trainings to enhance green energy schemes.