Creating norms in gold panning: A combination of state attempts at formalization and self-regulation by the sector. A case study of the Vihiga and Kakamega gold panners in western Kenya

Since 2010, mining activity has been thriving in western Kenya, particularly in Vihiga and Kakamega counties. Confronted with the dynamism of gold panning, the Kenyan government has taken steps to formalize artisanal mining by overhauling the 2016 Mining Act. But so far, the provisions of this Act have not been strictly enforced. It’s the same story for all development programs dedicated to gold panning, in particular those of the UNDP and GEF. However, some informal regulatory initiatives led by the gold miners themselves have had some success in organizing mining activity. The lack of results from government initiatives raises questions about the tensions and renegotiations between official norms, practical norms, and the positioning of institutional figures, especially those on the ground.