Geothermal Projects Implementation and the Livelihoods of Adjacent Communities in Kenya: A Case Study of Menengai Geothermal Power Project

Abstract

There has been the use of geothermal energy across the world for centuries. Although other types of power generation are not as eco - friendly as geothermal energy, some aspects of the development of geothermal energy can have detrimental environmental, economic and social consequences. This research was aimed at investigating the effect of the Menengai Geothermal Development Project on the adjacent community. The effects of topographical change, demographic change, environmental degradation and project - related social responsibility on the livelihoods of surrounding communities have been reviewed in this research. The target population of the study comprised of 1120 households situated in a 5 KM radius of the Menengai Geothermal Project. From this population, clustered random sampling method was used to select 104 participants. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data, and analyzed using descriptive and the Pearson correlation technique.  For the data analysis, the statistical program for social sciences (SPSS) was used. Results indicated that project-related landscape alteration, project-related environment pollution and project-related population change had negative but statistically insignificant effect on the livelihood of local communities. Project social responsibility activities had a positive and statistically substantial effect on the livelihoods of local communities. The finding led to the conclusion that implementation of geothermal project has both positive and negative implications on how the local communities live their lives. Project managers should thus find strategies for minimizing the negative effects and maximizing the positive impacts. The study recommends that geothermal project implementing companies should invest more in social responsibility activities in order to optimize impact on community livelihoods. The companies should also develop project designs and technologies that minimize landscape alterations, environmental pollution, and population change as these were found to have a negative effect on livelihood although the effect was no significant.