Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho, on Thursday, January 30, warned illegal miners against extending their activities to local communities without their consent.
Speaking in Siaya, he urged those who wished to pursue mining to approach the local communities and reach a written agreement, rather than resorting to the shady practice of mining without licences.
"In the law, you are required to allocate one per cent of the gross revenue to the community. You must reach an agreement. Form a committee and engage with the community," Joho advised.
"The committee should then inform Governor James Orengo that they have no objections. The Governor will then inform me, as the minister, that he has no objections. I will then issue them a licence to mine. Don’t even bother coming to me if you haven’t engaged with the communities, because I will deny you the licence."
Upon issuance of licenses, the CS reiterated that they should then pay one per cent of their gross revenue for the development of the community.
The miners are also expected to pay 20 per cent of the shareable loyalties to the county governments and a further 10 per cent to the community.
On the flip side, he urged the chiefs and the locals to embrace artisanal miners authorised to work in the area as they contributed a great deal to the national economy.
Addressing the chiefs, he reminded them that the power bestowed to them and their uniform was sufficient to order unlicensed miners to leave their quarries.
"Chiefs wear uniforms just like the police. Your job is not just issuing IDs. You have to go into the villages and collect information and if someone is stealing from our economy it is your responsibility to act," Joho urged.
"Inform your ACC (Assistant County Commissioner) the DCC (Deputy County Commissioner) the County Commissioner, then RC (Regional Commissioner). Anyone who participates in illegal mining should be arrested and held accountable."
This directive comes just two days after the Kenya Chamber of Mines (KCM) criticised CS Joho's recent initiatives targeting the mining sector, describing them as unjust and detrimental to the industry.
KCM chairperson Patrick Kanyoro stated, "People do not mine as a hobby, just for clarity, people mine as an activity to sustain their livelihoods, You will call me illegal because I do not have a license? I do not know how you will explain to me why you have not granted me the same despite having applied for it."
