David Greven studied ‘Languages and Cultures in Africa’ and ‘History’ (dual bachelor) and finished his master in ‘Culture and Environment in Africa’ at the University of Cologne. Since 2018, he is working on his PhD in ‘Social and Cultural Anthropology’ under the supervision of Dr. Clemens Greiner. His research is part of the CRC 228 “Future Rural Africa: Future-making and social-ecological transformation” and focuses on a large-scale geothermal project in northern Kenya and how it affects local dynamics in an area that has been largely neglected in terms of infrastructure in the past (Subproject C02 “Energy Futures”). He is mostly interested in how infrastructure (or part of it) is enabling new (de-)generative processes, affecting its implementation, utilization, politicization and (re-)negotiation.

The GSSC offers the opportunity to work in close contact and exchange with other international junior researchers from different disciplines. Research, experiences and problems can be shared and discussed in a safe and constructive environment, which has been a great help in reflecting upon my own research. A diverse offer of lectures and workshops further invites to delve into other’s research topics and areas that might inspire your own work.

In the course of Kenya’s Vision 2030 development plan the Kenyan Northern Rift Valley has become the playing field for new stakeholders, interests and speculations. Large-scale development projects such as LAPSSET and extended geothermal exploration in Tiaty East sub-county are described as game-changers in the formerly neglected area. For the state to benefit from the “untapped potential” of the area (at least untapped by the state and investors), construction of new infrastructures is necessary. In the case of Mt. Paka, a dormant volcano, where the Kenyan Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has recently finished exploratory drilling for steam, the newly built roads and water pipelines are of particular importance. In my thesis, I focus on these infrastructures and the promises they hold, and how they have a direct impact on the communities, often through processes and uses unintended by planners and engineers, depending on the state of construction and maintenance, and the availability and accessibility of resources. As such processes and uses of infrastructure can lead to disruption in project schedules, (re-)negotiations between the company and communities are constantly taking place. The new infrastructures, in their various stages, thus, have a diversifying impact on those who use them. They provide new opportunities, change power relations, bring about extensive negotiations and create new relationships.

Greiner, C., Greven, D. and Klagge, B. (2021). Roads to Change: Livelihoods, Land Disputes, and Anticipation of Future Developments in Rural Kenya. The European Journal of Development Research. doi:10.1057/s41287-021-00396-y

Klagge, B., Greiner, C., Greven, D. and Nweke-Eze, C. (2020). Cross-Scale Linkages of Centralized Electricity Generation: Geothermal Development and Investor-Community Relations in Kenya. Politics and Governance, 8(3). doi:10.17645/pag.v8i3.2981