Effects of Oil Extraction on the Livelihoods Vulnerability in Lokichar-Kochodin Basin, Turkana County, Kenya
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Date
2022
Authors
Cheptoo, Kirui Agnes
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Discovery of oil in South Lokichar-Kochodin Basin (SLKB) in Turkana County, Kenya, in
2012, subsequent exploration and extraction, provided opportunity to assess the nature of
vulnerability to displacement and impoverishment, particularly among the pastoral
communitiies in arid and semi-arid regions. This study assessed the effects of the
exploration and extraction of crude oil on displacement and the vulnerability of the
livelihoods. Specific objectives of the study were to; examine the nature of the
vulnerability of the livelihoods, assess the nature of oil-induced displacement, examine the
effects of the oil dispcement on the vulnerability of the livelihood, assess the narure of
recovery and to examine the nature of the compensation. Informed by the theory of
vulnerability, impoverishment and displacement (VID), the study was basically a survey
design. The location of the study was South Lochikar-Kochodin Basin (SLKB) in the
Turkana County targeting 14,713 households. A sample size of 426 was determined using
the Yamane (1967) formula. Individual households were drawn through systematic
sampling with use of two registers (one from Lokichar location and one from Kochodin
location). Data were collected through key informant interviews (KII), focus group
discussions (FGD) and a survey questionnaire. Descriptive and Inferential analayis inform
of regression was performed. As in most parts of Turkana County, SLKB was largely arid
and semi-arid region where livelihoods were based largely on livestock production.
Around 78% of the households lived within the margins of the chronic poverty (KES 117
per day or $ 1) and experienced varied forms of the vulnerability of livelihoods. The land
tenure in SLKB and most parts of the Turkana County remained a community land;
accessible to local members of the community and held in trust by the County
Government. The study established that 53% of the households had lost some part of
access to land because of exploration and extraction of oil, 42% had witnessed reduced
livestock, and 38% had experienced extensive and severe reduction of access to water
sources. Reports indicated that by 2018, a total of 700 square kilometers of community
land had been curved out to support exploration of oil and gas, extraction, and related
infrastructure. The study also established that 42% of increased severity of poverty was
driven by oil related impoverishment and displacement and was significant at the
probability of error less than 0.001. Out of the seven indicators of impoverishment and
displacement, the key drivers were 1) excised/reduced land (Beta=0.482), 2) pasture
(Beta=0.236) and 3) family support (Beta=0.174). The study established that 31% of the
recovery (new settlement, access to new opportunities) were associated with the socioeconomic
endowment (resilience) of the households; which was significant at the
probability of error less than 0.001.The study established that there had been limited
stakeholder engagement characterized by a number of critical challenges such as limited
plan, limited information, limited education, inadequate compensation (even at the pilot
stage), and multiplicity of stakeholders (i.e. national government, local government,
council of elders and the households). The study recommended strengthening measures to
accelerate human resource development and socio-economic capacity (resilience), to
improve agro-pastoral production, to enforce registration of the community land based on
the Land Registration Act (2012) and the Community Land Act (2016), 4) to re-start
negotiation of the compensation and resettlemt directed to building the economic
endowment (resilience) of the local (indigenous) population.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the School of Law, Arts
And Social Sciences in Partial Fulfilment of The
Requirements for the Award of the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology of Kenyatta
University
Keywords
Effects, Oil Extraction, Livelihoods, Vulnerability, Lokichar-Kochodin Basin, Turkana County, Kenya