Cultural Aspects Constraining Mine Water Supply Chain Management in ASAL Areas of Kitui County, Kenya

Abstract

Kitui County receives low levels of rainfall annually thus considered as Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) area. The community has formed many cultural imaginations about water ensuing from scarcity and insufficiency of the commodity in the area. This study sought to establish how community livelihood, beliefs, norms and customs, poverty, rituals and gender involvement constrained mine water supply chain management. The findings showed that there is difficulty in accessing water and the quantity and quality available do not match community domestic needs. Consensus building and factoring in of cultural aspects is key in ensuring success of mining and extraction activities.