Artisanal Gold Mining and Its Implications on Adjacent Land Uses: a Case of Rosterman and Ikolomani Sites, Kakamega County, Kenya

Abstract

Gold mining is an essential driver of economic development. Nevertheless, artisanal gold mining has also been linked to adverse effects on health and the environment, particularly on sustainable land use. Studies have indicated gaps in the effects of artisanal mining activities on sustainable land use. Despite the increased artisanal gold-mining activities, the sector remains informal mainly because it is not included in the mining legislation in Kenya. This research investigated the influences of artisanal gold mining on the adjacent land uses in Ikolomani and Rosterman areas in Kakamega County, Kenya. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The study was cross-sectional as it occurred at a single moment. The study objectives purposed to; determine the effects of artisanal gold mining on adjacent land uses in the study area, examine the factors contributing to the effects of artisanal gold mining on adjacent land uses in the study area, evaluate public and private stakeholders' roles, behavior, and perceptions of artisanal gold mining on adjacent land uses in the study area and to propose strategies that can be employed to ensure sustainable gold mining. Multistage Sampling was used for the Household survey while Purposive sampling was used for the Key Informant Interviews and the Focus Group Discussions. In the study, one hundred and ninety (190) questionnaires were administered using the Kobo Collect application to the respondents living adjacent to the Rosterman and Ikolomani gold mines. Four (4) key Informant interviews were conducted in the Mining Department, Environment Department, NEMA, and Planning Department in Kakamega Government Offices, and two (2) Focus Group Discussions involving the miners and the locals Ikolomani, Lurambi and Shinyalu sub-counties. From the findings, approximately 79.5% of the respondents were artisanal gold miners. However, artisanal gold mining resulted in land degradation, water pollution, noise pollution, agricultural unproductivity, adverse health effects, deforestation, encroachment of ecologically sensitive areas, and instability of physical structures adjacent to the mines. The factors that led to these effects varied from weak gold mining legal and regulatory reforms, inadequate institutions, poor governance, and political and socio-economic factors. The findings also highlighted the actors' actors' roles, behaviors, and perceptions while addressing the proposed planning interventions to curb the adverse effects of the mines. It was found that there was a need to carry out policy and regulatory reforms to formalize the sector and zone the mining areas while incorporating physical infrastructure developments in the gold mining sector.