Extractive Industries and the Poor in Africa. A Case Study of Coal Mining in the Mui Basin, Kenya.
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2015-06-09
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en
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Natural resource extraction in developing countries is often accompanied by corruption, poor governance, violent conflicts, poorer economic performance, environmental pollution and social grievances. On the other hand, investments in the extractive sector induce economic growth and might generate income and employment opportunities. This study argues that the poorest often do not benefit from the positive impacts of growth in the extractive sector, but rather suffer from the negative consequences. Kenya is on the verge of important developments in the extractive sector due to recent resource discoveries. In the Mui Basin, Kitui County, coal deposits have been discovered and exploitation is going to begin in the near future. A survey undertaken with 75 households on people's perceptions shows clear correlations with regard to the gender, age, education and relative wealth of respondents. Better educated, wealthier, younger and male respondents perceive the mining project positively. Contrarily, lower educated, poorer, older and female respondents consider the project negatively. The perceptions of the respondents of the Mui Basin thereby confirm the argument of this study; the most vulnerable and poorest are unlikely to benefit from developments in the extractive sector, but rather suffer from its negative impacts.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen