Exploring Drivers of Household Energy Choice for Cooking: Evidence from Kenya

Abstract

The availability of clean, efficient and affordable modern cooking fuels is essential for enhancing the socioeconomic well-being of marginalized populations in developing nations. However, many Kenyan households need access to these fuels and rely on traditional cooking methods. This reliance on unclean cooking fuels contributes significantly to indoor air pollution, leading to numerous premature deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing upon data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) with a sample size of 42,022 households, this study delved into the factors influencing households' choice of cooking fuel in Kenya. The findings revealed that 22.2% had embraced modern cooking fuels among the surveyed households, 18.2% utilized transitional options, and 59.6% predominantly depended on traditional fuels. These statistics validate the fuel stacking hypothesis. Moreover, the research highlights the importance of gender dynamics, urbanization, household size, education, marital status, and income in shaping preferences across modern, transitional, and traditional fuel categories. Affirming the energy ladder hypothesis, this study underscores that households gravitate towards cleaner energy sources with increasing income levels. These insights have substantial policy implications and advocate tailored strategies aligned with diverse sociodemographic contexts. This study recommends promoting cleaner alternatives through awareness campaigns and facilitating smoother transitions across fuel categories. Key policy considerations encompass gender-sensitive approaches, urban-focused interventions, education-driven solutions, and income-targeted support, which are all pivotal for sustainable fuel adoption. JEL Codes: D12, 013, Q53