| dc.description.abstract | In the past two and half decades mining activities of
fluorspar have been operational in the southern part of the
Keno Valley. However very little socio-economic and
environmental studies have been conducted to establish the
concomitant effects of fluorite mineral development in the
Valley. This study, therefore, attempts to identify and quantify
these effects of fluorspar mining. The objectives of the study
are to examine the production and operations of fluorspar
mining as well as to investigate the environmental and socioeconomic
effects associated with fluorspar mining in Kerio
Valley.
The study utilises primary and secondary sources of
data. The methodological approach adopted for primary data
collection involved mainly the administration of
questionnaires and interview schedules. Descriptive,
parametric and non-parametric statistics were used to analyse
and present the findings.
The study established that fluorspar mining has a role
to play in employment creation and revenue generation to the
local authority. The correlation result showed that there exists
a spurious relationship between the employment and
production of fluorspar over the years which indicate that
there is a fairly limited potential for imensification of
fluorspar production as well as creating additional
employment opportunities, but on the other hand there is a
corresponding relationship between export earnings and
fluorspar production which indicate that there is a positive but
strong association. This implies that there is a bright future
for expanding export earnings of fluorspar.
The development of fluorspar production and
processing industry have made some environmental
degradation. The open cast method of mining involving
blasting has contributed to land dereliction. From the survey,
11% of the total respondents interviewed ranked land
disfigurement and use of explosives in blasting fluorite as the
most critical environmental hazards. Similarly, 70% of the
respondents had a perception that fluorspar mining activities
in Kerio Valley contribute to contamination of surface water in
Keno river which is a key resource in the Valley's life support
system.
The study revealed that fluorspar mining has opened
- up Keno Valley southfor development. For example 90.1% of
the respondents ranked the establishment of good transport
network as the most important contribution of mining to
development in the Keno Valley. Several commercial and
trading centres have sprung up as a direct consequence of
-- fluorspar mining operations which , provide reliable
opportunities for the local people to sell their agricultural
products and other goods and services to the people living and
working in the mine area. Substantial business development
can also be attributed to Fluorspar mining. For example,
55.8% reckoned that all trading and commercial ventures are
dependent on fluorspar mining activities.
The location of fluorspar mining concern in the valley
has brought about the development of other infrastructural
units which the valley community utilises at nominal charges.
This include, clean piped water, medical and educational
services. Although the provision of electricity and telephone
services is the domain of private sector contribution, the
adoption of these services for mineral production by KFC have
made it possible for the businessmen and other individuals to
get access to electricity and telephone services at affordable
costs.
However, the most tragic impact of fluorspar mining in
Kerio Valley is the unresolved question of the displacement of
1200 households to set aside land for mining, without
adequate compensation and alternative place for settlement.
The study concludes that there is need for formulation of
clear-cut mining policies and regulations which address
proper compensation and resettlement strategies as well as
providing for greater weight on environmental protection from
undesirable effects of mining. | en_US |
