Civil society and spaces for natural resource governance in Kenya

Abstract

In the Kenyan context of new resource discoveries and an ambitious devolution programme, and what is argued to be a shrinking of civic space globally, the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) working on natural resource governance is critical. The resilience, space and capacity of civil society to engage in the policy process, from community-based organisations to national non-governmental organisations, all shape outcomes in terms of legislation, policy and management of scarce resources. Drawing on interviews with CSOs from across Kenya, following the new 2010 constitution and devolution programme, this article explores how new negotiated spaces of participation around resource governance have emerged in Kenya. Using multidimensional frameworks to analyse power relations, it explores how Kenyan CSOs are cautiously redefining roles, offering expertise when devolved governments struggle, and standing up to powerful interests of corporate lobbies with varying degrees of success.

Keywords:

• natural resource governance
• civil society
• devolution
• participatory spaces
• power cube
• Kenya

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Interview with a renewable energy CSO, Nairobi, July 11, 2017.

2 Interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

3 Interview with a wildlife CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

4 Interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

5 Interview with an environmental justice CSO, Nairobi, July 11, 2017.

6 Interview with a peace communication CSO, Nairobi, July 14, 2017; interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

7 Interview with a wildlife CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

8 Interview with a Turkana-based CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

9 Interview with a Turkana-based CSO, Nairobi, 12 July, 2017; interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, 12 July, 2017.

10 Interview with a Turkana-based CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

11 Interview with a Turkana-based CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

12 Interview with a Turkana-based CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

13 Interview with a Turkana-based CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

14 Interview with a Turkana-based CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

15 Interview with a youth CSO, Nairobi, July 11, 2017.

16 Interview with a wildlife CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

17 Interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

18 Interview with a Turkana-based CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

19 Interview with a Turkana-based CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

20 Interview with a Turkana-based CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

21 Interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

22 http://kcspog.org

23 Interview with a peace communication CSO, Nairobi, July 14, 2017.

24 Interview with an environmental justice CSO, Nairobi, July 11, 2017; interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

25 Interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

26 Interview with a Turkana-based CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

27 Interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

28 Interview with a Turkana-based CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

29 Interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

30 Interview with an environmental justice CSO, Nairobi, July 11, 2017.

31 Interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

32 Interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

33 Interview with a peace communication CSO, Nairobi, July 14, 2017.

34 Interview with an academic, Nairobi, July 10, 2017.

35 Interview with a peace communication CSO, Nairobi, July 14, 2017.

36 Interview with a conservation CSO, Nairobi, July 12, 2017.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by Coventry University, UK.

Notes on contributors

Miho Taka

Miho Taka is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University. Her research interests lie in the nexus between peace, conflict and social justice. She focuses on issues around natural resources, including human rights, armed conflicts and corporate responsibility, especially in the extractive industries, as well as education and conflict.

Jessica Ayesha Northey

Jessica Ayesha Northey is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University. Her research areas include civil society, associational activism, democracy, development and natural resource governance. She is the author of Civil Society in Algeria: Activism, Identity and the Democratic Process (London: I. B. Tauris, 2018).