Small Scale Gold Mining Activities on Mining Employees Livelihoods in Kenya

This study was conducted to find out how the gold mining activity affects the livelihoods of the employees in small scale gold mining in Kenya. This was done by focusing on small scale gold miners in Ikolomani Sub-County where much of the gold mining is done. The study had three specific objectives namely: to assess the effect of labor input into small scale gold mining on the livelihoods of mining employees� households; to establish how capital inputs into small scale productivity of small scale gold mining on the livelihoods of mining employees� households. The study adopted a case study approach that employed survey techniques in data collection. The target population was the small scale gold miners in Ikolomani Sub-County. A total of 98 respondents participated in the study. Data collected was analyzed with the aid of SPSS. Descriptive statistics was used in the analysis. The study found out that labor input in small scale mining contributed significantly to the livelihoods of Ikolomani residents though it was affected by the challenge of using innovative methods. It was also found out that capital input had positive significant influence on the mining employees� livelihood. The study concluded that small scale gold mining is an attractive venture which had attracted the residents of Ikolomani. However, it is associated a myriad of health risks. Labour and capital input contribute positively to the mining employees households� livelihoods except for productivity which has a negative effect. The study recommended that government should put in place mechanisms to improve the skills of the gold mining employees through training, employee development and compensation. Further, the small scale gold miners should be empowered by the government to make them have access to capital to finance small scale mining and install mechanism to ensure the proceeds from gold mining activities benefit the small scale gold mining employees and stakeholders and the host communities.