Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of strategic leadership on the adoption of solar photovoltaics in Uasin Gishu County in Kenya. The study was guided by the following research questions: What is the influence of strategic direction on the adoption of solar PV in Uasin Gishu County? What is the influence of core competencies on the adoption of solar PV in Uasin Gishu County? How does human capital development influence the adoption of solar PV in Uasin Gishu County? How does organizational culture influence the adoption of solar PV in Uasin Gishu County? How do organizational ethical leadership practices influence the adoption of solar PV in Uasin Gishu County? How does instituting organizational controls influence the adoption of solar PV in Uasin Gishu County? Finally, how do Stakeholder Perceptions moderate the relationship between strategic leadership and solar PV adoption in Uasin Gishu County?
The study applied a positivist research philosophy and a descriptive correlational research design targeting all the 240 executive, policy, legislative, and decision-making level staff of the County Government of Uasin Gishu County. Given the size of the population, a census was applied. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire as the primary tool and triangulated using key informant interviews. The proposal was presented to the School for approval before submitting to the Institutional Review Board for ethical review. Upon approval a research permit was sought from National Council of Science, Technonoly and Innovation. This was followed by piloting of the tools to check for their reliability and validity. Thereafter, the tools were refined and data collected. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics included mean and standard deviation, while inferential statistics included statistical tests, and regression analysis. Other analysis conducted were ANOVA and Chi-Square tests. SPSS version 28, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, was used for data analysis, and the results were presented in figures and tables. The interview data was analyzed using Thematic Analysis.
The significance of the relationship between the strategic direction dimension of strategic leadership and solar PV adoption in Uasin Gishu County was assessed using the Chi-Square test with the results [χ² (2479, N=152) = 2503.833, p < .05], indicating that the two variables were significantly associated. Multiple linear regression further indicated that the strategic direction dimension of strategic leadership was significant in predicting solar PV adoption [R2 = .613, F (1,150) = 238.097, p < .05; β = 1.575, p < .05] implying that the strategic direction dimension could explain 61% of the changes in solar PV adoption. Concerning the second research question, the Chi-Square test results [ χ² (2077, N=152) = 2270.085, p < .05] indicated that there was a significant relationship between the Core Competencies dimension and solar PV adoption, with regression results revealing that core competencies dimension significantly predicted solar PV adoption [R2 = .769, F (1,150) = 498.605, p < .05; β = .2.149, p < .05].
In terms of the third research question, a strong association was found between the HR training and development dimension and solar PV adoption as shown by the Chi-Square test results [χ² (2546, N=152) = 2739.667, p < .05], with regression analysis revealing that the HR Training and Development dimension significantly predicted solar PV adoption [ R2 = .718, F (1,150) = 382.135, p < .05; β = 1.739, p < .05], implying that the core competencies dimension explained 72% of the changes in solar PV adoption. For the fourth research question, the results revealed a strong association between the organizational culture dimension and solar PV adoption as indicated by the Chi-Square test [χ² (2546, N=152) = 2422.525), p < .05]. Multiple linear regression revealed that the organizational culture dimension significantly predicted solar PV adoption [, R2 = .668, F (1,150) = 301.372, p < .05; β = .1.686, p < .05], indicating that the organization culture dimension explained 67% of the changes in solar PV adoption.
Regarding the fifth research question, the significance of the relationship between organizational ethical leadership practices dimension and solar PV adoption was assessed using a Chi-Square test with the results [χ² (2077, N=152) = 2025.347), p< .05] showing a strong association between the organizational ethical practices leadership dimension and solar PV adoption Multiple linear regression also revealed that the organizational ethical practices dimension significantly predicted solar PV adoption [R2 = .769, F (1,150) = 499.271, p < .05; β = 1.855, p < .05]. Study findings on the sixth research question revealed a strong association between the organizational controls dimension and solar PV adoption, as was shown by the Chi-Square test results [χ² (2010, N=152) =2194.344, p < .05]. The results of regression revealed that the organizational controls dimension significantly predicted solar PV adoption, with 71% of the changes in Solar PV adoption being explained by the organization controls dimension [, R2 = .714, F (1,150) = 374.854, p < .05; β = .2.155].
For the seventh research question, the study results showed that Stakeholder Perceptions were positively and significantly related to solar PV adoption [r (152) = .767, p < .05]. Similarly, the results of the Chi-Square test analysis indicated that Stakeholder Perceptions and solar PV adoption were strongly associated [χ² (3818, N = 152) = 3751.939, p < .05], and. Regression analysis results, however, revealed that Stakeholder Perceptions did not significantly moderate the relationship between strategic leadership and solar PV adoption in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, with [R2 = .890, F (6, 145) = 194.826, β = 16.314 p < .05], before moderation and [R2 = .912, F (8,143) = 184.757, β = .000 at a significance of .524 after moderation which is higher than p = .05 set for this study. On this basis, the study did not reject the null hypothesis that
The study concluded that strategic leadership dimensions of strategic direction, core competencies, HR training and development, organization culture, organizational ethical leadership practices, and organization controls and their elements positively and significantly influenced solar PV adoption in Climate Smart Agriculture in UG County. Finally, stakeholder perceptions do not significantly moderate the relationship between Strategic leadership and solar PV adoption in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The study recommends that the Uasin Gishu County leadership in consultation with other key stakeholders, including farmers' organizations, cooperatives, and NGOs set a clear mission and vision specific for the CSA program to give a clear direction and scope to those engaged in this project. Secondly, the leadership identify their core competencies and capabilities to maximize any competitive advantage they may have for improved solar PV adoption in the county. Thirdly, allocation and investment of more resources in training climate change and solar technology technicians and experts for climate change mitigation through solar PV adoption in their Climate Smart Agriculture program is also recommended.
Forth, promotion of a culture that recognizes climate change as a global phenomenon based on the SDG goals and promoting a culture that ensures adequate staff engagement for support and alignment. Development of ethical codes of conduct to regulate purchasing and supply contracts to allow business dealings only with stakeholders that meet ESG reporting standards as a measure for climate mitigation support and compliance is necessary. Finally, it is recommended that leadership consider creating an adequately resourced Climate Change and Green Energy department under the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries executive to deal specifically with climate change and green energy adoption for Climate Smart Agriculture.