dc.description.abstract | This study sought to assess the potential environmental and socio-economic effects of geothermal
exploitation on the local community in Suswa that primarily encompasses pastoralists who practice a
nomadic lifestyle and open range grazing. The analysis targets the local community living around the
energy project in the Suswa area. The objectives were to assess potential environmental and socio-economic
effects of exploitation of energy, on the area people in Suswa and to debate on viable ways for addressing
the issues which may arise so as to boost the standard of living of the local community living around the
Suswa geothermal energy plant. This study took a look at the hypotheses that there exists no significant
difference between geothermal power exploration and environmental effects on the local community in
Suswa and that there exists no significant difference between geothermal power exploration and the
economic and social welfare of the local community in Suswa by conducting a chi square test for various
environmental and socio-economic effects.
This study was conducted using descriptive survey design. Samples for the questionnaire survey were
chosen using simple random sampling whereas purposive sampling was applied in obtaining key informant
interviews and participants for the focus group discussions. The information used was provided by the
Kenya Population and Housing census, 2019. This study was conducted using both primary and secondary
data that produced both qualitative and quantitative data. Data collected was analyzed by using descriptive
statistics and inferential analysis, using the applied math’s package for scientific discipline (SPSS) to get
frequencies, percentages, means and variance, and then presented in form of tables and graphs.
In the findings, the families interviewed expressed fears that the exploration might create a health risk, to
employees in the industry and to the communities and their animals living around the projected Suswa
geothermal plant such as respiratory diseases and possible miscarriages of both humans and animals.
On the other hand, the potential advantages are likely to fall within the areas of education; infrastructure,
health, economic empowerment; environmental management and support of art & culture. The pertinent
conclusion of the study supported the findings that the potential socio-economic and environmental effects
of the energy project still needs further efforts to ensure a win-win state of affairs for each; the government
and also the local community living in the vicinity of the Suswa geothermal energy plant.
This study recommended that albeit socio-economic impacts being inevitable in any energy development
project, this ought to be minimized by holding informatory and consultative forums with the community
and by taking their interests, fears and issues into consideration, and ensuring the implementation of sound
environmental management and operation systems by the government. | en_US |