Background: There have been notable joint efforts from the private and public sectors in promoting households' access to clean and efficient energy sources. Despite the noteworthy progress realized over the years, the consumption and reliance on clean energy sources are reportedly low. This scenario is evident among households practicing multiple energy use, whereby energy proportions consumed from the clean energy sources are much lower compared to nonclean energy sources. As such, reliance on non-clean energy has greatly hindered the projected welfare and productive gains that comes along with access to clean energy sources. To understand households' energy consumption behavior, this study takes into consideration that energy preference (choice) and intensity (proportions consumed) are two independent decisions. Therefore, a succinct understanding of the factors affecting these decisions acts as a basis for an optimal transition to clean energy sources. Methods: The study utilized a nationally representative cross-sectional household dataset (3663 households) across Kenya. A series of diagnostic and specification tests were carried out so as to identify the most suitable estimation technique in achieving the underlying objectives of the study. The preference for Cragg's double-hurdle model was premised on the fact that the model postulates that households must pass two separate hurdles before a positive level of consuption is observed. Maximum likelihood estimations were derived, followed by the marginal effects for the probability of participation and consumption intensity (conditional and unconditional) to unveil the effects of explanatory variables on the dependent variable. Results: Results show the diversity in magnitude and direction of how various factors affect the preference and consumption intensity among households. For instance, households' energy preference and consumption intensity are predominantly affected by location (rural or urban), household's decision maker on energy use, education level, age of the household head, and the average monthly income. Conclusion: In this regard, the promotion of clean energy use should target households in rural areas and households with lower level of education and lower income brackets. Uptake of clean energy sources such as liquefied petroleum gas should be encouraged among rural and urban poor households through reducing the upfront cost of acquiring cylinders and the refilling costs.

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Electricity services are crucial for human well-being and to a country's socio-economic development. Despite its importance, low levels of electricity adoption continue to prevail in most rural areas in SSA. Low socioeconomic development has been attributed among others factors to lack of modern energy sources especially electricity among rural households, which has been identified as a major setback in propelling empowerment and development at household and community level. There is minimal or no research conducted to understand the socio-economic dynamics of electricity adoption among households in Meru-South Sub-County. Household interviews were conducted from 150 randomly selected households using closed and opened ended questionnaires. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression. Result revealed that the largest proportion of the respondents were non-adopters. Possible predictor factors that significantly influenced adoption were distance from the transformer, education level, gender, household size, and income. Results further indicated that accessibility (proximity of the transformer) and cost of connection were perceived as the utmost prior challenges to electricity adoption by households. It was recommended that rural electrification project should be in considerate of household level characteristics in process of planning for electricity dissemination in rural areas to ensure heterogeneity in electricity adoption.

Electricity services are crucial for human well-being and to a country's socioeconomic development. Lagging development has been attributed among others factors to lack of modern energy sources among rural households. At present, the Kenyan Government is committed to extending the grid to the rural areas. This article reviews emerging trends of grid-based rural electrification and empirically examines the short-term effects of electricity at household level. The result revealed minimal electricity take up by the rural households. Conversely, it is established that electricity coverage improved over years. There is a distinctive disparity in spatial distribution in adoption, non-adoption and access. Electricity take up has substantial benefits to households especially in improving the quality of life. However, electricity is minimally used for income generating services. The government should be committed to periodically and exclusively review the progress of rural electrification in each region to identify the setbacks which assist in policy review and reformulation.

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