Women Participation in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in Taita Taveta County, Kenya

Abstract

The Artisanal and small-scale mining sector plays a significant role in the development of the Kenyan economy. For instance, this sector contributed 0.4% of the national gross domestic product in the year 2016. Despite the significant involvement and contribution of women to the Artisanal and small-scale mining sector, women have not fully benefited from it. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the level of women participation in the artisanal mining sector and establish the factors influencing their level of participation using a case of Taita Taveta County, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to investigate the effect of Social-Capital cultural practices on women participation, to investigate the effect of mining legal framework on women participation, and to determine how access to financial capital affects women participation in artisanal and small-scale mining in Taita Taveta County. The study was guided by the Theory of Empowerment and the Social-Capital theory. The study used cross-sectional research design and targeted where a total of 146 women were selected using stratified sampling technique to participate in the study. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect individual-level data from the respondents and the information triangulated with findings from key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussion. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, percentages, and frequency distribution table and inferential statistics like correlation, regression, and hypotheses tests were used to analyse data. Correlation statistics were conducted using Pearson’s approach while Ordinary Least Square method was adopted in regression analysis and T-test for independence was used to test the hypotheses. The findings indicate that socio-cultural practices such as attitude about women’s role, and gender-based biases against women have adverse effect on women participation in Artisanal and small-scale mining. In addition, the study has established that mining legal framework determines women participation in Artisanal and small-scale mining. Specifically, the requirement for mining permits has a positive impact on women participation while the process of obtaining the permit has a negative effect. Understanding of the mining law was insignificant. Furthermore, the study has found that accessibility to mining tools and equipment, and access to skills and knowledge on finance affects women participation in Artisanal and small-scale mining negatively. The study concluded that socio-cultural, legal practices and financial capital determine participation of women in Artisanal and small-scale mining in Taita Taveta County. It is recommended that, to improve women’s position in the Artisanal and small-scale mining sector, there is need to educate and train women on use of better mining tools/machines, help them get mining license, get access to financial systems where they can get affordable credit, and engage them in leadership positions so that they can champion for their rights in the Artisanal and small-scale mining sector.