Balala criticises bid to scuttle Mining Bill

By RENSON MNYAMWEZI

Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala now claims that powerful forces in the mining industry have been frustrating the proposed Mining Bill that seeks to put in place radical changes in the sector.

Speaking when he called on Taita-Taveta Governor John Mruttu at his Wundanyi town offices yesterday, Mr Balala said the Cabinet had approved the draft Bill for debate in Parliament.

“The proposed Bill has already been published in Parliament. It will bring regulatory measures to streamline operations in the mining sector that had for many years been controlled by few wealth individuals,” said Balala.

He said the Bill proposes a stable and remarkable legal framework on the operations and transparency in the issuance of licences for the benefit of all Kenyans.

“Once the Bill is passed and assented to by the President, it will ensure fairness in the mining sector,” he assured.

Local leaders, among them MPs Joyce Wanjala Lay, Andrew Mwadime, top mining officials and several county officials accompanied Balala.

The leaders complained that about 70 per cent of gemstone mining was being carried out in the region yet area residents were not benefitting.

Ms Lay and Mr Mwadime called on the government to vet existing mining licences saying they were issued irregularly.

Mwadime, who is the Mwatate MP, claimed a few powerful individuals had been licensed to mine in the Tsavo National Park.

“Discrimination in the issuance of mining licences has raised concerns among small-scale miners in the region. Locals should be given priority in the mining sector to avert conflicts,” he said.

Lay complained that small-scale miners were being evicted from the mines by powerful and well-connected large-scale miners.

She, at the same time, called for the establishment of a mineral development and auction centre to support small-scale miners who had been exploited by middlemen in the industry.

Responding to the complaints, Balala said small-scale miners would be issued with special permit.

“Small-scale miners will only be required to pay Sh1,000 for the dealer’s licence,” he said.

Balala told the leaders that all expired licences would not be renewed.

Mr Mruttu said his administration had purchased two compressors worth over Sh5 million to assist small-scale miners.

“The county government will carry out maintenance of the compressors while small-scale miners will only be required to fuel them,” the governor told Balala.