Institute for Law and Environmental Governance (ILEG) will be holding a Civil Society Workshop on ‘Conservation and Citizenship: Democratising Natural Resources Management in Kenya’. Coming at the height of political campaigns ahead of general elections in august 2017, the workshop aims to provide an opportunity for Civil Society Organizations (CSO) to discuss the place of natural resources in the 2017 political agenda; do a self-assessment of CSO’s role and performance in democratising natural resource management; and to enhance CSO’s understanding and appreciation of constitutional, legal, policy and moral principles of environment and natural resource governance in Kenya. It will also discuss how to better position environment as a widely cross-cutting issue that should increasingly be integrated in the work of all CSO’s including those whose mandates are not directly focused on natural resources. The two-day workshop will be held at Ngong Hills Hotel in Nairobi on June 16-17th 2017 from 8.00am. Participation is by invitation and those interested to participate should contact Duncan Okowa (d.okowa@ilegkenya.org).

6th Extractive Sector Forum

Land is a critical factor in sustaining livelihoods and socio-economic wellbeing in Kenya. It is also closely linked to community identity, history and culture. Despite the country’s considerable progress with regard to land reforms, unsustainable use, irregular allocations, tensions, and conflict continue to bedevil the land sector. The entry of mining and oil & gas companies has heightened tensions around land access and acquisition. Host communities around the country have voiced concerns around denial of community access to specific sections of their land; how tracks of land under concessions were allocated; the size and process of compensation awarded; environmental degradation and health risks associated with resource extraction.

The 6th Extractives Sector Forum is the second in a series of discussions on land access and acquisition which will focus on the role of different stakeholders and institutions charged with land administration. This has been informed by lack of clarity and coordination among key extractive sector institutions and stakeholders which became a key concern during the 5th Extractive Sector Forum (ESF) hosted by Extractives Baraza, Institute for Law and environmental Governance (ILEG) and Institute for Human Rights and Business in Nairobi in March 2017.

The forum will seek to clarify the institutional roles and coordination with regard to land access and acquisition for extractive activities in Kenya. Participation is by invitation and those interested to participate should contact Rose Kimotho-rose.kimotho@ihrb.org