CS Joho on spot over licencing of Devki's multi-billion iron ore deal

President William Ruto and Devki Group Chairman Narendra Raval during the commissioning of the Sh11 billion Devki Iron Ore Pelletisation Plant at Manga in Taita-Taveta County, on December 3, 2024. [File, Standard]

The Ministry of Mining is on the spot for issuing Devki Group of Companies permission to extract iron ore for his Sh11 billion steel plant without consent from ranch owners.

Kishushe Ranching Cooperative Society board of management said the government issued the prospecting mining licence to Devki without its consent.

The board vowed not to allow Devki to extract iron ore from its 60,000-acre ranch for its smelting plant expected to start operations late this month at Manga, near Voi town.

The society's chairperson Matilda Walegwa and other ranch members accused the Ministry of Mines and Blue Economy officials of regularising illegal consents.

The ranch owners called for the immediate nullification of all illegal mining consents and removal of illegitimate investors from the mining cadastre, which is riddled with corruption.

Ms Walegwa asked Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho to punish his officers who approved the licence and tampered with the cadastre for the benefit of Devki.

"The Ministry of Mines appears to be validating these illegal consents instead of upholding the requirements of free, prior, and informed consent from rightful landowners as stipulated under the Mining Act 2016, the Community Land Act, the Cooperative Societies Act, and environment and social safeguards principles," Walegwa noted.

She said Archers Post and Universal Companies have been given mining consent by the ranch after they appeared before shareholders in the Special General Meeting (SGM).

Walegwa accused the county administration of taking sides on the issues.

Wilfred Mwalimo, the ranch secretary, said they will seek an audience with President William Ruto on the matter if Joho does not address the issues they have raised.

"We have been receiving threatening messages from security circles while dealing with Devki. But no amount of intimidation will stop us from defending the community's land rights," vowed Mr Mwalimo.

Mwalimo said Joho needs to talk to his Principal Secretary and officers who work at the cadastre department to remove all illegal consents.

He claimed that the Local Purchase Order to supply iron ore to the steel plant had been given to outsiders.