Expanding Access to Electricity in Kenya

Abstract This case study tells the story behind a research project on the economics of rural electrification in Western Kenya. The chapter covers (1) aspects of the policy and technology environment that initially guided the course of the work; (2) how the project pivoted away from solar microgrids and focused instead on the expansion of the national electricity grid; (3) unexpected challenges encountered while implementing a randomized evaluation of electricity infrastructure; (4) how we interpreted the study findings in light of consequential, concurrent changes to Kenya’s electrification policies; and (5) possible directions for further research, motivated by our project experience.