Socioeconomic Impact of Solar Energy Adoption on Pastoral Communities in Wajir West Sub-County, Kenya

Solar energy offers a transformative solution for rural, arid, and semi-arid regions, particularly in underdeveloped areas where conventional energy is scarce and solar energy remains the main energy source adopted by the pastoral communities. This study measured the socio-economic implications of using solar power among pastoral people in Wajir West Sub-County, Kenya. The study used a mixed-methods design to sample 218 respondents, who were household heads, local leaders, and energy service providers. The quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, while the qualitative data were analysed thematically. The results show that half of households owned solar systems, which are mainly used to provide lighting and charge phones, and 24% use common systems. The result further indicates that adoption of solar has increased income (66%), lowered energy expenses (78%), improved the education of children (51%), hygiene, health, and helped in the sustenance of the environment. Regardless of these advantages, the adoption is hampered by high initial costs, inaccessibility of maintenance, low technical capabilities, and cultural issues pertaining to nomadic living. The recommendations involve increasing the scope of financing sources, technical education, and enabling policies in order to increase accessibility and sustainability. Research in the future must focus on issues surrounding the role of policy frameworks in affecting solar adoption in pastoral regions to facilitate equitable and scalable rural electrification