Natural resource exploitation and people’s livelihood: A study of oil exploitation in Lokichar Basin, Turkana County, Kenya

Abstract

The Role played by natural resources in a country’s growth cannot be underestimated. Globally, countries endowed with natural resources have seen tremendous development as evidenced from the various socio-economic activities taking place. This however tends to vary from the numerous strategies employed by each country. Unlike the case with developed countries, third world countries seem to wait until full exploitation has taken place before integrating with livelihood transformation. There are always high expectations from the host community that oil exploitation will translate to better living standards. It is against this background that this study sought to examine how systematic transformation of livelihood can be achieved during the initial stages of natural resource exploitation in Lokichar Basin. The study’s specific objectives were to: examine the sources of livelihood of the people before oil exploitation; assess the local community participation in oil exploitation in Lokichar Basin; evaluate the contribution of Oil exploitation to the people’s livelihood and analyze the obstacles people face in eking livelihood during oil exploitation in Lokichar Basin. The study was anchored on three theories: Political ecology theory, Malthusian theory and Institutional theory and adopted pragmatist philosophical paradigm. Sequential explanatory mixed methods research design was adopted with a target population of 226,000 people in Lokichar Basin. Using Taro Yamane formula, a sample size of 277 respondents was used for this study. The sampling techniques adopted were cluster and purposive sampling. The instruments of data collection were: Questionnaires, interview schedules, Focus group discussions and document analysis. Data was analysed with the help of SPSS version 23: Quantitative data was analyzed through descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages which were then presented using charts and tables. Inferential statistics employed was the Pearson Coefficient correlation. Qualitative data was analyzed descriptively in the form of narratives put into thematic areas in line with the objectives of the study. The study found out that the primary source of livelihood for the local community is pastoralism as alluded by 65% of the respondents. However, pastoralism is under the threat of extinction due to competition for land use. It also emerged from the study that there was good or optimal involvement of the local communities on activities of the Extractive industries as indicated by 54.6% of the respondents. As per the findings of the study, a number of benefits have been accrued namely: Improved well-being manifested through job opportunities, infrastructural development, availability of social amenities, education scholarships, micro-finance schemes. In addition, political patronage, elitism, conflicts and environmental degradation were found as obstacles experienced by the local community in eking livelihood during Oil exploitation. At the level of significance of 0.055 and alpha level of 0.05, the (Pearson Coefficient correlation) p-value at 0.184, it was evident that there was a positive significant relationship between oil exploitation and livelihood of people. Hence, this study concluded that oil exploitation has potency of bringing about a positive transformation on the livelihoods of the local residents of Lokichar Basin. The study recommended investment in livelihood diversification strategies, people-centred oil exploitation with efficient engagement of the local community in the entire process of oil exploitation, proper revenue management, local community expectations management, transparency and efficient legal framework for enhanced livelihood. The findings of the study would greatly help in the development of policies addressing problems associated with oil exploitation; inform appropriate interventions suitable for sustainable livelihood as well as management of high expectations among people living in Oil exploitation zones of Turkana County.