The Troubled Marine Resource Frontier between local Communities and Salt Firms in Kilifi County, Kenya

The marine environment represents a new development frontier for the globe in line with the blue economy concept. The coastal communities in Kenya are highly dependent on the marine ecosystem for socio-cultural, and diverse livelihood activities. The Kenya coast is the only region in the country where table salt is manufactured from sea water for both domestic and export purposes. The establishment, expansion; and operation of salt companies places demands on a host of environmental goods including sea water, land, and wood fuel among others. These same marine resources are needed by the local community for their daily subsistence. These resource- use incompatibilities are at the foundation of conflicts surrounding marine resource use between salt firms and the local community. There is need for alternative conflict resolution arrangements leveraging the existing informal structures in Kilifi County between salt companies and the local community. The study proposes a new perspective regarding the components of conflict comprising of tangible and intangible components as a way of alternative dispute resolution at the local level.