Migori miners decry difficulty in getting licenses

Gold miners at a mining site in Nyatike sub-county.  [File, Standard]

Small scale artisanal miners in Migori county have decried difficulty in getting licenses.

The said most miners’ cooperatives in the county have been applying for the licenses in vain.

“Artisanal miners are having a challenge of getting licenses and permits,” Artisanal Mining Committee chairman Elly Duro said.

Small Scale Artisanal Miners Association Chairman Kephas Ojuka said that most cooperatives have been applying for the licenses in vain and lamented that when the cadaster was opened, it did not even take five minutes before it was officially taken by other big mining companies.

He claimed that priority was given to foreign investors.

“The Mining PS was here and he actually promised to give us the cadaster. We have been in a series of meetings and we hope that there would be some light at the end of the tunnel,” Mr. Ojuka said.

On June 10, Mining PS Elijah Mwangi who led the certification of miners in Osiri Matanda area in Nyatike sub-county in Migori county emphasized the need for miners to have licenses saying that the government had a programme of supporting them.

The PS called for predictability of the market price for gold, establishment of TVETs where skilled miners would get certification  and laboratory which would help indicate the correct value for gold as part of the plans that would uplift the lives of small-scale artisanal miners.

The miners who addressed the Press on October 21, 2024, said they hoped that they would receive permits and licenses for their operations and were disappointed after they did not find room for application.

The miners blamed the situation lack of goodwill from the government, after it committed to prioritise small scale miners and ensure their operations were legal.

They were speaking at Migori town where they held a stakeholders and artisanal miners consultative meeting with Governor Ochilo Ayacko.

The governor said, that a series of meetings have been lined up to ensure that mining in the county is above board and artisanal miners just like small traders in Kenya receive protection from legal institutions.

He highlighted that investors would also receive support and cooperation of all the agencies of government.

Governor Ayacko committed to ensure that the delays in accessing licensing is addressed and  interests of miners and investors are prioritised.

“The challenge that requires urgent tackling is that the application for licenses in Migori county particularly in Nyatike sub-county,” Governor Ayacko said.

He promised to visit the miners to see how artisanal miners can be registered to benefit from the support of the county and national governments and get licenses.