Government committed to end illegal mining, Says PS

Murang’a,

Sunday, September 24, 2023

KNA by Bernard Munyao

Over 3, 000 illegal mines operating in various parts of the country have been closed as the government moves to enforce new reforms in the mining sector.

Mining Principal secretary Elijah Mwangi has said the government has also cancelled 1, 500 mining licenses after the miners went against the rules and regulations guiding their operations.

The move, Mwangi noted, is aimed to streamline mining in the country and stop smuggling of minerals in and out of the country.

The PS, speaking in Gaturi area of Murang’a County, observed that anybody transporting minerals should have a mineral transport permit issued by the regional mining office.

“The regional mining officer is also required to be present during the packaging to ensure that the minerals requisitioned through the system are the ones being packaged,” he noted.

Mwangi further noted that the ministry is working out to establish laboratories and factories at various areas where minerals are mined.

 “The laboratories will support testing of mined minerals and also facilitate manufacturing of final products from the raw minerals,” he added.

The PS cited that for a county like Murang’a, where granite stones and clay soil are mined, there should be a factory to manufacture tiles, saying the move will be beneficial to the locals in terms of job creation and spurring economic growth at the locality, in a bid to ensure value addition in every region.

The ministry, he noted, has also collaborated with Kenya Ports Authority, where an officer has been posted to confirm whether minerals leaving the country have the requisite documents.

 “We are also collaborating with the national government administration officers to ensure safety and security of the mines,” Mwangi remarked.

As the country expects Elnino rains, the PS said that it was prerogative of the government to give guidance to Kenyans who are at a risk of getting affected by the impact of the heavy rains.

He therefore cautioned Murang’a residents who live along the highlands to be cautious of possible landslides and mudslides.

Gaturi ward MCA Gathee wa Njeri on his part, observed that the new reforms in the mining sector have come in handy, since those who own land endowed with granite stones and clay for molding tiles and pots in Gaturi are always exploited by brokers, who pay them poorly and end up leaving their excavated farms exposed, without filling the gullies.

“Implementation of such reforms in the mining sector will therefore see residents benefit more from minerals in their lands. Here in Gaturi, clay and granite have been mined over the years, but farmers earned meager returns since the sector had not been well managed,” added Gathee.

Courtesy; KNA