10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

This study examined the socio-technical factors influencing the uptake of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy among households in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. Using a mixed-methods research design, hypothetical data from 210 respondents were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics, complemented by thematic analysis of simulated interview responses. The findings indicated that socio-technical factors significantly influenced household adoption of photovoltaic solar energy (β = 0.28, p = 0.002). Key determinants included community awareness, peer influence, affordability of PV systems, access to flexible financing mechanisms, perceived economic benefits, and household decision-making dynamics. Respondents generally agreed that inadequate public awareness, limited access to credit facilities, and the high initial installation cost remained the major barriers to widespread adoption, while positive community experiences and increased environmental awareness enhanced acceptance. Qualitative findings further revealed that households were more likely to adopt PV technology after observing successful installations within their communities and receiving technical guidance from trained TVET graduates. The study concluded that socio-technical factors play a significant role in shaping household decisions regarding photovoltaic solar energy adoption. It recommends strengthening public awareness campaigns, promoting community-based demonstration projects, expanding affordable financing models, and enhancing collaboration among government agencies, TVET institutions, and private sector stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy technologies in Uasin Gishu County.