The adequacy of the current policy, legal and institutional frameworks in addressing social, environmental, and occupational safety & health impacts of gold cyanidation in Siaya County, Kenya

This study evaluates Kenya’s policy, legal, and institutional frameworks for managing the environmental, social, and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) impacts of gold cyanidation, focusing on Siaya County. Despite the robust national policies and legal structures, such as the National Environment Policy, 2013 and the Mining Act, 2016, effectiveness is compromised by enforcement gaps and insufficient institutional resources. The Siaya County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) (2018–2022) lacks specific provisions for gold cyanidation, indicating a misalignment between local and national policies. Institutional assessment reveals significant deficiencies, including under-resourced regulatory bodies like the Ministry of Mining and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), which hamper effective oversight and enforcement. The study suggests that a multi-faceted approach involving strengthening public regulations, enhancing institutional capacities, and integrating private sector initiatives could offer a more comprehensive and sustainable management strategy for gold cyanidation impacts. By combining robust public frameworks with proactive private sector practices, Kenya can improve mining governance and address existing regulatory gaps.