Community’s Perception towards Adoption of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) in Artisanal Gold Mining within Nandi and West Pokot Counties, Kenya

Abstract

Use of ICT in artisanal gold mining provides information on new improved gold mining technologies which are environmentally friendly with a higher recovery rate of gold hence better income to the miners while conserving the environment. For the mining communities to decide whether or not to adopt ICT, they must first perceive it. Therefore, perception is a necessary prerequisite for adoption. Therefore, the present study sought to assess perceptions of the mining communities towards the adoption of ICT in artisanal gold mining within Nandi and West Pokot Counties, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey design that incorporated both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Simple random sampling was used to establish respondents for household survey. Structured questionnaires were randomly distributed to 279 household heads. Findings from the study showed that ICT could be used to mitigate structural challenges and serve many functions in artisanal gold mining only if it is designed to serve them. ICT has a variety of applications in artisanal gold mining activities and will serve as an enabler to business processes changing the situation in artisanal gold mining. The respondents affirmed that ICT holds the key to new production technologies to be used in mining such as geo-mapping systems. Unavailable geo-mapping systems make miners to engage in Trial and era methods leading to unnecessary land destruction. Therefore, for improved gold mining technologies in the study areas, ICT should be adopted.