dc.description.abstract | The extractive industry has visible and, sometimes, not so visible negative impacts on the
operators, abutting communities and land uses. While relevant management authorities and
operators have demonstrated their commitment to the restoration of the environment and
attaining improved performance by formulating regulations under the key performance areas of
sustainability in the industry, the Kenyan industry faces innumerable quarry-related disasters and
stakeholders’ complaints on safety, environmental and socio-economic concerns. The
formulation of sustainable quarrying guidelines by NEMA was necessitated by such concerns.
The study investigated the establishment of sustainable quarrying factors and necessary
compliance by the operators. The study aimed to determine level of awareness amongst the
operators on sustainable quarrying activities and assess the overal contribution of the operators to
sustainable quarrying in the investigated site. Qualitative and quantitative research designs
provided details of the QOs perceptions on sustainable quarrying activities and drawing
statistical conclusions respectively. The field data collection methods involved participant
observation and informant interviewing of 31 QOs randomly sampled from 297 QOs using semistructured
and structured interview techniques. Secondary data on the contribution of the
quarrying industry was sourced from the Kenya National Statistics Bureau.
The study found out that the majority of 71.0% of the QOs were not aware of the existence of the
NEMA sustainable quarrying guidelines. The socio-economic variables of sustainability were
well established and had a positive strong effects and contribution to sustainable quarrying. The
environmental protection variables were least established and perceived to have no effects and
contribution to sustainable quarrying. The environmental protection variables applied in the
study area by QOs were the observation of buffers to river, residential units, schools, hospitals,
shopping centers and aerodromes. The overall compliance levels of the QOs was poor and their
activities had no contribution to sustainable quarrying in the study area. The study recommends
the establishment of quarrying sustainability rating and excellent performance by the operators
may be used as incentives for continued operation and access to other business opportunities.
The authorizing agencies should undertake sensitization and awareness programmes within the
study area on the sustainable quarrying guidelines and heighten enforcement and monitoring to
ensure compliance with sustainable quarrying regulation for sustainability within the industry | en_US |