Does Increasing Electricity Access Affect Political Participation? Evidence from Rapid Electrification in Kenya

Abstract

What happens to political participation when people first get access to electricity? In 2014, less than half of the population of Kenya had access to electricity; by 2023, nearly 80% of the population had some form of access. The state has an ambitious goal of increasing access to 100% by 2030, relying solely on renewable sources. We ask, do people with access to the grid participate differently than those without? Does gaining electricity change patterns of participation? Does engagement vary based on the amount or quality of electricity they receive? In principle, citizens with ready access to electricity participate more, as electricity enables access to political information, frees time that can be used for political engagement, and facilitates political mobilization. We use original survey and focus group discussion data from Kenya to show that electricity grid access decreases some in-person participation, but that this is offset by increased digital participation. The volume of electricity a person has also matters: access to greater quantities of electricity enables communication and information technologies that increase participation.