The Dynamics of Informal Electricity Demand in Informal Settlements in Kenya: A Systems Thinking Approach

The workshop concluded with reflections on the day’s insights and further steps. Key insights included the acknowledgment that informal cartels thrive not just on affordability but on deep community trust, often filling voids left by formal systems. The response from community members also highlighted a history of systemic barriers like exclusion and misaligned incentives. Kenya Power’s acceptance of partial responsibility marked a pivotal shift, suggesting potential for joint efforts to break these cycles. The workshop introduced participants to systems tools enabling the articulation and communication of their lived realities. It provided a shared space for interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, and helped illuminate potential pathways forward by prioritizing contextual understanding and identifying vicious cycles and high-leverage areas for resilient change. Participants agreed that similar multi-stakeholder conversations should be sustained to continue building shared insight and momentum. Community representatives expressed interest in continued engagement with Systems Thinking, particularly in the use of systems tools and communications strategies that highlight systemic issues and are tailored to the needs of informal settlement communities. They also recognised the potential of quantified systems modelling and user-friendly interfaces to foster mutual understanding among different stakeholders. Following the workshop, UCL researchers Brunilde Verrier and Emma Richardson had the opportunity to visit the informal settlement of Mathare, facilitated by the community-led organisation Ghetto Foundation. The visit provided rich contextual depth to complement and enhance the insights generated during the participatory workshop.