Former Machakos Senator, Johnstone Muthama, has revealed that the government denied his firm, Rockland Kenya Limited, an export permit.
The politician lamented that the move had led to huge losses adding that he has gone ahead to sue the Ministry of Mining.
“I verily believe that the refusal and or delay by the first respondent in proceeding to have issued to us export permits is in complete contravention of our rights as provided for in the Constitution and the Fair Administrative Action Act,” states Mr Muthama in an affidavit where the Attorney General and Mining Secretary are listed as respondents.
According to him, the firm was given a special mining lease in 1991, which was later extended in 1996 and the most recent one was extended to 2033.
[caption caption="File Photo of Johnstone Muthama"]
[/caption]
Muthama further stated that he had complied with all tax requirements but the Mining ministry has continued to frustrate his efforts.
According to a report by the Business Daily, Rockland Kenya Ltd applied for the export permit in October 2017 to enable it sell minerals overseas.
However, it alleges that the Mining CS wrote a memo to the Principal Secretary and the director of mines in September 2017 imposing new conditions before the issuance of the export permit.
Leaders allied to the Opposition have complained of being targeted by the government in recent days especially after suspension of some of their passports last week.
Muthama was among 14 other leaders, including Senator James Orengo, businessman Jimmy Wanjigi, strategist David Ndii, and Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho, who were asked to hand over their passports
In a letter signed by the Director of Immigration, they were further ordered to surrender the passports to the Department at Nyayo House within 21 days failure to which the passports would be rendered null and void.
[caption caption="Siaya Senator James Orengo and Businessman Jimmy Wanjigi"]
[/caption]
The High Court, however, suspended the government's decision to revoke the passports noting that it should not interfere with their movement in and out of the country.
In a ruling on Monday, the court also nullified the decision by the State to invalidate Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati's passport alongside other NASA leaders who had filed the lawsuit.
