Mitigating Against Conflicts in the Kenyan Mining Cycle: Identification of Gaps in the Participation and Recourse for Rights Holders (Civil Society & Community)

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology, Mining, Materials & Petroleum Engineering Department, P.O. Box 62000 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya

^* Corresponding author: sanyona@jkuat.ac.ke

Abstract

One of the major obstacles to sustainable development of the mining sector in Africa is conflicts. These conflicts emanate from various sources. However one of the key sources of misunderstanding is lack of communication between the rights holders (community and duty bearers (government and corporate) and this breakdown of communication is due to poor or nonexistent mechanisms of involvement of affected communities in decision making and ignorance. This study sought to examine the Kenyan Mining cycle and identify procedural and systemic gaps that if not addressed could trigger conflict in the emerging mining sector and suggest ways of mitigating them. Key among the greatest barriers to communal participation is ignorance regarding mining activities and also the language of instruction. Most rural people are uneducated and yet a large number of communication and notices are in English. Poor management of expectations is also a critical source of misunderstanding and hence conflict. Poor communal organization and lack of some sort of recognized authority give room for disorder and hence poor channels of communication.