Building assets with the vulnerable and marginalized groups of the Kenya coast

Abstract

The Kenya coast is home to the Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups (VMGs) who meet the criteria provided by the Constitution of Kenya and World Bank Operational Policy (OP) 4.10, in terms of language, culture, and attachment to the lands on which the VMGs live and natural resources on which they depend and are subordinate to the more dominant communities with whom they live as neighbors. The livelihoods of these groups depend, largely on the natural resources within their environments. Initial screening was done to identify these VMGs during the preparation phase of the Kenya Coastal Development Project (KCDP). The evaluations showed that VMGs were present in five out of the six counties of the Kenya Coast. Therefore, it became clear that KCDP activities could lead to some impacts on these groups. In particular, restrictions regarding entry to forests and other natural resources areas based on the implementation of policies and management plans developed by the project. Some implementation activities were considered to be actions that could result in adverse effects on the livelihoods of such communities and were, therefore, an important consideration during the lifetime of the project. The Constitution of Kenya, 2010supports empowerment of these communities, and the World BankOP4.10,also provides several provisions on how the State should deal with minorities and marginalized groups. These provisions provide affirmative action programmes to fast track the integration of minority and marginalized communities into the mainstream social and economic life of Kenya and ensure representation of these communities in the political sphere. The OP 4.10, in particular, requires that the development process fully respects the dignity, human rights, economics, and cultures of the YMGs.