| dc.description.abstract | World Bank Environment Department’s (WBED) estimates that roughly 10 million people
are displaced each year due to infrastructure development construction. Although such
projects can bring enormous benefits to countries, they also inflict social and economic costs,
which are every so often borne by local citizens of the respective countries. Robinson (2003)
points out that millions of people around the world have suffered due to development induced
resettlement resulting to loss of assets and livelihood.
The purpose of the study was to determine the social and economic aspects associated with
involuntary resettlement during construction of infrastructure projects. The study had four
specific objectives, which were to; explore Thika Dam Project Affected Persons (PAPs)
perception towards government procedures in regards to involuntary resettlement, assess
whether the PAPs adequately participated in involuntary resettlement process, determine the
social and economic impacts of involuntary resettlement inflicted to the PAPs and review the
current coping mechanisms adopted by PAPs in an effort to address involuntary resettlement
challenges.
The main sampling method adopted during the study was systematic random sampling
procedure due to the fact the population size was small and finite. (Krejcie & Morgan, 1970)
formula of determining sample size and sampling interval of known population was used to
determine the sample size and sampling interval. The sample size was 169 respondents to be
interviewed at an interval of 2, the respondents were evenly distributed within the five
villages of Kimandi, Wanyaga, Ndakaini, Makomboki and Kimotho which formed the
sample frame.
The research instruments that were used to collect data during the study included: structured
and open ended questionnaires, direct observation and structured interviews and focused
group discussions. Secondary data was obtained from Government publications such as economic surveys, population census reports, statistical reports, statistical abstracts and development plans. Analysis was done using both qualitative and quantitative methods and presented in form of tables, pie charts and graphs. Chi square test was used to test the null hypothesis at 0.05 confidence level.The study found out that perception of the project affected persons regarding government
resettlement process was negatively influenced by the way Nairobi City Commission
(NCC) handled the resettlement process. 59% of the respondents argued that the
compensation received was not commensurate to the assets acquired, 62% of the
respondents rated the NCC poor in the manner it handled the resettlement process and only
12% of the respondents were satisfied with the process.
NCC made no effort to bring together all stakeholders that were relevant to the process the
stakeholders included; local community members, civil societies, opinion leaders, church and
relevant government institutions. Therefore the stakeholders were denied a platform where they
could share their views and concerns regarding the entire resettlement process. 49% of the
respondent argued that local affected persons did not participate in the process while 42% of the
respondents were not sure whether participation happened only 8% of the respondents admitted
that participation of the local affected persons in the process happened
Additionally, the main impact caused by resettlement process was loss and loss of
livelihood. The loss negatively impacted on all the social and economic attributes namely;
86% of respondents suffered disruption in education, 88% suffered occupation disruptions,
88% had their business affected and all the respondents lost social networks and amenities
including markets and worship centers.
The coping mechanisms adopted by the PAPs to address the resettlement challenges were
unsuccessful. The majority of the PAPs continued with small scale farming as the main
coping strategy in their new homes, others took loans to reestablish their businesses while
others received support from friends, families and well wishers to reestablish their
livelihoods.
The study therefore recommends that resettlement programs should be handled in a manner
that ensures compensation is made at full replacement cost, this allows other associated post
resettlement livelihoods restoration strategies that ensures PAPs re-establish after resettlement
are included in the compensation package. Another recommendation of the study is to always involve PAPs and other relevant stakeholders in making decisions on resettlement matters, this provide a platform where the parties present their ideas and concerns to be included in the process and therefore assuringcommunity goodwill to the project. | en_US |
