International Journal of Academic Research and Development 51 International Journal of Academic Research and Development ISSN: 2455-4197; Impact Factor: RJIF 5.22 Received: 22-01-2019; Accepted: 25-02-2019 www.academicjournal.in Volume 4; Issue 2; March 2019; Page No. 51-59 Use of skills and knowledge effect of rural electrification on the household well-being of proprietors of micro and small enterprises in Kenya Bonface Imbali Mudi 1 , Maurice Sakwa 2 , Elegwa Mukulu 3 1 Doctoral Student, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Juja, Kenya 2, 3 Professor and Lecturer, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Juja, Kenya Abstract In Kenya, poverty rates in rural areas have continuously remained high indicating that household well-being has equally remained low. Given this scenario, an explanation requires studying the use of skills and knowledge effect of rural electrification on the household well-being of proprietors of micro and small enterprises in Kenya. The study adopted descriptive survey design, which ensured ease in understanding the insight about the problem under study. The target population for this study comprised of 914,243 proprietors of micro and small enterprises registered in Kenya by 2015. Primary data from proprietors of rural micro and small enterprises in eight counties namely; Kakamega, Bungoma, Nakuru, Busia, Bomet, Siaya, Kericho and Kirinyaga forming a sample size of 418 and a response rate of 73.4% (307 respondents) was used. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The data collection instrument (questionnaire) was pilot tested on 5% of the sample size to ensure that it was manageable, relevant and effective. Combined multiple regression analysis revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between use of skills and knowledge effects of rural electrification and household well-being of proprietors of micro and small enterprises in Kenya. It was concluded that use of skills and knowledge effect of rural electrification has an influence on household well-being of proprietors of micro and small enterprises in Kenya. It was therefore recommended that the Kenyan government should come up with clear policies and review legislations to ensure Rural Electrification Authority is given a clear mandate, authority and resources to fulfil the mandate, and ensure accountability for achieving that mandate. Keywords: use of skills and knowledge, household well-being, rural electrification, proprietors of MSEs 1. Introduction 1.1 Background to the Study Well-being is a state of satisfaction of basic human needs and rights as well as being a crucial pre-requisite before people can flourish and live well (Tinkler & Hicks, 2013) [51] . Between 2000 and 2014, there were advances in electrification, with the global electricity shortfall decreasing from about 1.3 billion to 1.06 billion - and the global electrification rate increasing from about 78 percent to 86 percent. Improvement with rural electrification is manifest, with the global rural electrification proportion increasing from 63 percent in 2000 to 73 percent in 2014 (World Bank, 2017) [57] . The electricity access shortfall is overwhelmingly concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa (62.5 percent). In sub-Saharan Africa, 6 out of 10 people lack access to electricity (World Bank, 2017) [57] . Grounded on this valuation, the United Nations targets worldwide access to electricity by 2030 through their initiative dubbed ‘Sustainable Energy for All’ (United Nations, 2010) [54] . The miserable energy access picture in sub-Saharan Africa is sadly highlighted in Table 1 which presents the regional totals of global electricity access proportions in 2014. Table 1: Global Electricity Access Rates in 2014 Region Pop. without electricity (millions) Electrification rate (%) Urban electrification rate (%) Rural electrification rate (%) Africa 634 45 71 28 North Africa 1 99 100 99 Sub-Saharan Africa 632 35 63 19 Developing Asia 512 86 96 79 China 0 100 100 100 India 244 81 96 74 Latin America 22 95 98 85 World 1,186 84 95 71 Source: (IEA, 2016). The skills and knowledge of business proprietors mainly achieved through use of electricity can impact the path to business success, and aid the process of building absorptive capacity of enterprise owners such as confidence, psychology, knowledge and skills. Educated people are creative and innovative and are always looking for something unique to fulfil a need or want (Chowdhury, Alam & Arif, 2013) [10] . It is widely recognized that necessary skills and knowledge positively influence managerial decisions that enhance business development