Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
4.6 POLITICS AND NATURAL RESOURCE CONFLICTS:THE
EAPCC CONFLICT CASE
In addition to the problematic interpretations of natural resource conflicts mentioned
above, it is alsoworth illustrating the effects of potential intermingling of economic bat-
tles for political power and economic wealth on the struggle to claim natural resources.
What may at first glance clearly appear to be a natural resource conflict may actually
have much deeper and historic causes that need to be understood and exposed in order
to be able to understand the real underlying factors.
A clear case in point is the conflict in Kenya concerning marble and gypsum. On
23 January 2012, a group of young Maasai stopped a lorry carrying marble in the
small town of Isenya, Kajiado County. The driver of the Kenya Marble Company, a
subsidiary of the East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC), of which the main
factory is located in the neighbouring Kamba dominated Machakos County some
30 km further to the north on the way to Nairobi, was told to unload his freight. The
Maasai explained to the driver that his freight was mined some 60 km further south
towards Namanga from the Mile 46 Quarry that belonged to the Maasai and should
no longer be transferred to the factory for further treatment. The driver had no option
but to drop the marble alongside the road. Other lorries experienced the same problem.
Another Portland quarry in Kajiado (Kibini) saw its feeder road blocked so that no
limestone could be brought to the Athi River Cement factory. Are we witnessing a
natural resource conflict here or is something else at stake?
In the years preceding this conflict, the EAPCC was transformed from a paras-
tatal into a private company, despite the Government maintaining a 27% stake. Since
November 2010 and November 2008 a new managing director and chairman of the
board of directors both from the Maasai community and affiliated to the PNU party
of President Kibaki, had been in office, respectively. Since late 2011, their position was
challenged by two Kamba ministers (Minister for Water and Irrigation and Assistant
Minister for Youth Affairs) originating from the neighbouring Machakos County.
The motivation for the Kamba ministers' action is said to have been triggered by
the upcoming implementation of a new administrative set up in Kenya that was itself
brought about by the New Constitution (2010). Accordingly, power is to be devolved
to the newly formed counties that will derive their benefits for a substantial part from
revenues raised in each of these counties. Thus, for those counties that have mines,
wildlife parks or a conglomerate of industries within their boundaries, the future looks
bright. For less well-endowed counties, assistance will need to be sought from national
levels. The Water Minister is said to have eyed control over the EAPCC as it is claimed
to be operating within theMachakos County boundaries. The Kamba, however, had no
control over the company's management whatsoever. Accusations of misuse of funds
and other malpractices against the Maasai management had initially resulted in them
being sacked. A court later ruled to reinstate the twoMaasai officials. At the work floor
tension was also building between the Maasai and Kamba employees. Cars belonging
to the Maasai were damaged by Kamba workers, and Maasai employees in responsible
positions were blocked from accessing the work premise by the Kamba workers.
Instigated by their leaders, the wider Maasai community grouped together to dis-
cuss how they should react to the situation. It was concluded that, first, the Maasai
officials should be re-instated; second, the damage to the cars should be paid for;
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