Northern Kenya has a history of conflict and marginalization. Recent discoveries of natural resources could exacerbate existing tensions over land and resources if not properly governed. Natural resources have fueled corruption, conflict, and poverty elsewhere in Africa by benefiting elites while local communities see few benefits. In Kenya, poor governance of the extractives sector risks increasing grievances among communities displaced or harmed by resource development. Unless revenues are shared equitably and communities' needs addressed, the discovery of oil and minerals in marginalized areas has the potential to stir long-standing conflicts.

1. POLITICS AND ECOLOGY
OF NATURAL RESOURCE
VIOLENCE IN KENYA
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES FOR THE EXTRACTIVES SECTOR
JAMES GONDI LL.M

2. EXISTING CONFLICTS IN MINERAL RICH
AREAS IN KENYA
 Northern Kenya, where recent natural resources have been found, has traditionally
been neglected and marginalised since colonial times. Northern Kenya has also
been a theatre of conflict over grazing land and cattle between pastoralist
communities
 Kenya has in the recent past experienced far too many conflicts. The recent one in
Nadome joins a long list of violent outbreaks in Lamu, Kapedo, Garissa, West
Pokot, Turkana and Baringo. There are many causes to these attacks, ranging from
terrorism, politics, cattle rustling and clan rivalries.
 The conflicts in Baringo, West Pokot and Turkana may be viewed in light of the
Lamu Port Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor and its economic
implications.

3. CONFLICT DYNAMICS
 Northern Kenya is also plagued by proliferation of these small arms aided by
corrupt border officials and has links to local wealthy businessmen and
politicians
 Porous borders, terrorism and illegal trade of commodities through the same
conduits in Northern Kenya also compounds the problem
 Income inequality and the presence of a large number of uneducated,
unemployed youth promotes easy radicalization as illustrated by the PEV, the
strength of the MRC and the general insecurity in the country not to mention
providing a recruiting platform for Al-Shabab.

4. NATURAL RESOURCES
 History is replete with examples of Africa’s natural resources being a source
of power and wealth for the continent’s ruling elites and multinationals, with
little left over for the people.
 Tragically, competition for control of revenues from natural resources has
fuelled cycles of corruption, conflict and poverty, stifling opportunities to
spur economic growth and social development.
 Instead of being a source of hope and benefits, natural resources lead to the
kind of conflicts, insecurity and deaths currently being witnessed.

5. POTENTIAL FOR NATURAL RESOURCE
CONFLICTS
 Given the several challenges mentioned above including historical marginalisation,
proliferation of small arms, radicalisation and existing conflicts among pastoralist
communities, the entry of high value natural resources such as oil and titanium in
these areas, poor governance and community dividends from the extractives
sector, could render the region prone to further escalated conflict overs
extractives
 The link between resource extraction and conflicts is complex and involves many
actors and divergent interests, the motivates revolve around greed and
grievances.
 Greed arises from the elite and those in authority trying to accumulate wealth and
unjustly benefit from the exploitation of resources, often at the expense of the
citizenry. They seek to ensure that contracts with multinationals are done at their
behest, in secrecy and with kickbacks for themselves and their cronies.

6. POTENTIAL CONTINUUM OF VIOLENCE
 On the other side of the coin is grievances that largely result from citizens
who derive their livelihoods from natural resources. They are usually poor and
see the discovery of resources such as oil and minerals as a chance to break
out of the poverty cycle. This soon turns into a mirage as the elite position
themselves and benefit while the plight of the communities gets worse.
 In addition to the usual poverty challenges, they now have to deal with
displacement from their lands, environmental degradation, increased health
challenges, changing lifestyles and other such ills. The end result is violence.
 Kenya is at the start of the extractive journey. This is a journey that has the
potential of stirring long-standing conflicts if not governed properly.