Kilifi County residents are celebrating Easter in style after the National Government and the County Government reached a truce to benefit them in prospected projects in the Ganze area.
Following talks that were held on Friday, March 29, the government granted a Chinese investor a three-year license for a Multi-billion prospect for minerals in the area after years of intervention.
Kilifi residents had previously opposed the move over fears of displacement without compensation.
The County Governor Gideon Mung’aro assured the residents that they would benefit from the Ksh950 million mineral royalties and further explorations in the region.
Mining Cabinet Secretary (CS) Salim Mvurya speaking after the meeting noted that the government was working towards leveraging revenue from investors in various mining projects to grow the country’s economy.
“We are carrying out further reforms in the Ministry, that will allow mining to contribute immensely to the economic development of the country,” Mvurya stated.
According to the government, the investor was given a prospective license as opposed to a mining license.
“Ganze is blessed with a lot of minerals, but it has been the cause of very many problems because we have had many unscrupulous people take advantage without any benefits,” a resident expressing their gratitude stated.
The government further revoked all licenses previously approved in 2019. The proceeds from the project will fund projects in the area.
“I want to assure the people of Kilifi and this area that the Ministry and the National Government in particular will not allow investors that are not going to respect the rights of the people,” the CS added.
In his part, Governor Mung’aro promised to collaborate with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to collect every shilling from the mining projects in the area.
Kilifi residents have in the past expressed fear over the effects of mining activities in the area. In 2019, a wide crack developed, damaging the road at Marere in the Jaribuni ward of Ganze constituency.
