Natural Resources Management and Environmental Monitoring: Coal Mining In Kitui County (Mui) - Kenya Background The monitoring

and evaluation of Coal mining in Kitui County is an idea born out of the need to improve management of natural resources in Kenya. In 2005, a 500-square kilometer area stretching through Kitui and Mutomo was discovered to contain one of the richest coal reserves in the world. The Mui Coal Basin project is currently divided into blocks titled A, B, C and D, with the last two believed to have more than 400 million metric tonnes of coal reserves. According to Ministry of Energy estimates, Block C has an estimated 400,000 million metric tonnes of coal that can be exploited for nearly 50 years. These deposits have an estimated value of Sh3.4 trillion at current market rates, while the value of the reserves in Block A, B and D is yet to be determined. The coal deposits have the potential to transform the economic fortunes of Mui residents, provide the entire country with cheaper source of electric power and literally fuel the projects of vision 2030 and beyond. The coal deposits in Kitui are billed as the best alternative source of cheap energy at a time when the country needs affordable power to drive Vision 2030, the economic blueprint that aims to make Kenya an industrialized country in 2030. Proposed Action Over the years the country has lost a lot of money to unregulated mining and policy gaps in the mining sector that leave areas that have minerals poorer than they. This are before the mining began. This is attributed to corruption as well as lack of interest from the locals. A perfect example of these once flourishing mining regions is in Nyatike where lay Macalder mines that saw gold worth millions mined from it during the pre and postcolonial era. Bottom-line is that the following should be taken into consideration; The present policies and their enforcement should be strengthened. Empowerment of the locals through capacity building. Conservation of the environment. Infrastructure development. Job opportunities for local community. Citizens participation

This project is definitely relevant to the community as it will help in empowering the community to be keen on the mining activities as well as ensuring that their rights are respected.

This project therefore seek to do an audit on the existing policies and try to address the gaps in these policies through engaging stakeholders, civil Society Organizations in Kitui and the relevant ministry. The project under CGD will also focus on empowering of locals through public forums as well as drawing professionals in the ministry of Mining to come and educate locals on what to expect when extraction begins and what roles they can play. We also will be scrutinizing the terms of the liscences given to the companies that will be mining and revisiting the bidding process to see what were the basis the companies were chose. We will be also following the Mining bill introduced by the Minister of Mining Mr. Najib Balala that aims to ensure that locals gain more from the proceeds of mining. Environment is also a priority and as an organization we want to ensure that the environment is conserved. We intend to work with NEMA to ensure that decommissioned mines are rehabilitated to be put into use by the Locals. As devolution rolls out the project aims hopes to ensure money given to the county from the proceeds are put into proper use to develop the infrastructure and improve the living standards of the communities around the Mui basin. This will be through creating of Community Monitoring groups drawing membership from the local administration and the community to monitor the way proceeds from mining will be used in the County. The mining companies will also need to be encouraged to invest in social amenities such as schools and hospitals in the region. This we intend to achieve by creating a platform where the community, county government and the mining companies would meet and collaborate to better social amenities. The project also intends to empower the locals with the prerequisite skills to work with the mining companies in various fronts. It also intend to lobby the National government to insist the mining companies set up factories to process the coal and make it market ready in the process more jobs will be created. Empowerment can be achieved by organizing short term workshops as well as public forums. Relevance Needs and Constraints of Kitui County Kitui County is by and large a semi- arid region that has inconsistent rainfall rendering serious agricultural activities impossible. The region mainly depends on relief aid from the government and other organizations which has proven to be unsustainable. The residents of Kitui live in abject poverty and development is minimal since funds are diverted from development projects to address emergency relief services. The regions also face the following problems that should be addressed: Poverty HIV/AIDS Climate Change

Resettlement policy

The Mui basin is on the verge of a major coal extraction and this is due to change the community both positively and negatively, with effects ranging from general pollution to movement of masses. Therefore there is need to monitor these activities as the progress continues in the exploration of coal. This is a major opportunity that if not utilized accordingly Kitui may lose out on the trappings that come with the extraction of this mineral. The major problem is lack of interest from the locals which we intend to solve by building their capacities to empower them. This information will arm them to be on the lookout and ensure due procedures are followed. According to jerkin (2000) Monitoring is the process of checking what is happening and the extent to which things have gone according to plan. Goals The overall goal of this project is to ensure the locals take part actively in the issues around mining of coal in the Mui basin profits them and improves their living standards. Objectives Ensure national Policies put in place are adhered to by the mining companies Enhance accountability, effective and efficient use of natural resources and enhancing public service delivery. Enhance the eradication of poverty, the promotion of human dignity and equality through significantly improve the human condition. Monitor the licensing process to ensure it is transparent as possible. Ensure achievement of peace, democracy and environmental sustainability Ensure the government improves service delivery and management of devolved funds as well as proceeds from mining activities To promote, conserve, protect, monitor and sustainably manage the environment and mineral resources for national development. Ensure social responsibility of the mining companies to the communitygiving back to the community like building schools, developing road, conservation of the environment. Monitoring Indicators 1. Citizen participation interest from the residents I Kitui County is will ensure they are privy to the activities and decisions made around the mining activities. 2. Compliance and enforcement of frameworks put in place . We will focus on implementation of relevant policies in place thus protecting the sector from rogue investors to ensure maximum gain.

3. Air emissions Control: interrogate the companys plans to limit air emissions to minimum. 4. Impact to land and surroundings: The land surface is dedicated to mining activities until it can be reshaped and reclaimed. If mining is allowed, resident human populations must be resettled off the mine site; economic activities, such as agriculture or hunting and gathering food and medicinal plants are interrupted. 5. Waste management: The burning of coal leads to substantial fly ash sludge-storage ponds. In the low-coal-content areas waste forms spoil tip. Well be looking at better ways of disposing off of the waste. 6. Rehabilitation: Coal mining is only a temporary use of land, so it is vital that rehabilitation of land takes place once mining operations have stopped. 7. Unemployment: reduction of the number of unemployed persons is expected with the expected job openings in the mining companies. 8. Infrastructure development: The development of infrastructure and social amenities such as roads, hospitals and schools Outcomes Transparency in the management of natural resources. Policy gaps be filled to eliminate loopholes that. Involvement of the locals in the making of decisions in the use of funds got from mining. Rehabilitation of lands whose mines extraction is complete to be given back to the community for other activities. Environmental conservation and minimum general pollution in the region and addressing climate change. Corporate Social Responsibility from the mining companies Infrastructural development. Improved living standards of the community members.

Conclusion