By Reporter
In a show of solidarity with the community that is set to be affected by Mrima Hills mining exploration and extraction, Kwale deputy governor Chirema Kombo led other leaders storming out ofà CS Hassan Joho meeting in Kwale.
Kombo cited lack of transparency, failure to involve communities set to be affected and county government leadership that has a role to play on matters mining in their area of jurisdiction.
Joho who had earlier signed mining regulations that will see 10 percent of royalties stuck with national government trickle down to the community after Base Titanium paid a few years ago was in the area to launch a post mining land use committee report as well as meeting stakeholders.
It is during the third activity when deputy governor Chirema Kombo led county mining executive member Saumu Beja,Pongwe Kikoneni-MCA Mohamed Mwaduga,Vanga MCA Yusuf Mbwana, Kwale county governors political advisor Mshenga Ruga, political advisor Anthony Yama and County secretary Silvia Chidodo among other county leaders out of the meeting.
Other Kwale leaders who went ahead to attend the meeting include LungaLunga Chiforomodo Mangale, Matuga Mp Kassim Tandaza, Msambweni MP Feisal Badar,Kwale senator Issa Boi, senator Rafael Chimera and county woman member of parliament Fatuma Masito among others.
According to the leaders the mining CS was bulldozing Kwale leaders on matters mining in the area without allowing community consultation or public participation.
Addressing the media outside Matuga school of Government hall Chirema said that they will be guided by the mining act 2016 on matters minerals exploration and mining as well as public participation.
“We swore to protect our people and their resources and we will continue doing that by engaging the community in matters that concern them directly,” said Chirema.
He said that consultation on matters mining must be done especially where the community is involved.
“We will not be part of a bulldozing situation in running of government affairs and if that is his way of doing things let him do. But in Kwale we do public participation when dealing with issues touching the community. That is a community resource that requires consultative process and public participation and respecting residents and Kwale leaders,” he added.
He said that there are no mining activities that can take place without affected people’s consent as well as the county government.
“There should be consent from land owners and also they should be told what will happen after mining for them. That requires deep consultation and dialogue. But this process has started with county commissioner and deputy county commissioner without involving locals and county government,” he claimed.
He said that the issue started after Joho interjected Dzombo ward MCA while he raised pertinent issues on the way the process was being carried out.
“When the MCA stood to speak the CS kept interrupting his speech and to speak in a certain way and we felt they had their own agenda and that is when I stood and told the CS that we are not in the colonial era. If he cannot listen to what the grassroots leaders are saying then there was no need for us to be there,” he reiterated.
The deputy governor said that the county government, MPS, senators, MCAs and all the elected leaders have their role to play on the issue of mining, especially consultation and dialogue with the community in place.
“We felt that the CS is bulldozing the process and if he can do it alone let him do because already he has called stakeholders without involving county government as if there is no county government in place,” he added.
His sentiments were echoed by Pongwe Kikoneni MCA Mohamed Mwaduga who claimed that they were being forced to speak on certain matters and avoid others during the ‘consultative meeting”.
“That is why we left because it would be against what our people wanted us to say. You can’t be invited in a meeting to discuss issues affecting your community and be directed on what to say” he said.
Vanga ward MCA Yusuf Mbwana said that Kwale people need to get clear information about the Mrima Hill project to avoid what happened with the Base Titanium company mining project in Maumba and Nguluku.
“We don’t want to be told Kwale is rich with minerals and we don’t know how it is going to benefit us and people are just streaming in to plan how to mine,” he said.
Mbwana took issue with delayed payment of royalties to county government and community after Base Titanium existed, saying it is unfortunate that Kwale county is being treated to stories of other companies planning to mine Mrima hill.
“We don’t want our wealth to be taken just without proper plans. We want locals to be involved directly and see how they will benefit. We want all the minerals to be processed here not like Base Titanium that took minerals and left for Madagascar where they have been asked to ensure before they start mining they have to do everything there,” he claimed.
In a quick rejoinder after the consultative meeting Joho said that the process of involving everyone on matters mining has started adding that the meeting was very productive and successful.
“We are here to break the ice; we are at a very early stage of the process for the progress of Mrima Hill. The resources underneath are wealth once mined but poverty when it remains there and that is why we are here to engage so that we can unlock that potential,” he said.
Joho said that there will be a separate meeting for MCAs, MPs, clergy, kaya elders and all stakeholders involved in Mrima hill mining project plans.
“Sisi hatuna kifua tulialika county government and we will invite them. We will continue because Mrima hill is a project of national importance and community. Mrima Hill will employ thousands of locals from Kwale, and involve billions of shillings of local content business,” he added.
Joho also noted that so far the government has not awarded any company for the project.
“We don’t know who will be given the project to mine and also don’t understand what is on the ground until exploration is done. Whatever is being said is speculation. Even those who will be affected we don’t know, “he assured.
He said that president William Rutos administration will not award any geological valuables that will not be value added to anyone.
“There should be factories to remove the final product. There will be further engagements,” he said.
Mrima hill in Kwale county is a significant site for rare earth elements and niobium with deposits estimated to be worth tens of trillions of Kenya shillings potentially a major global supplier.
The hill, a carbonate plug, also contains minerals like Monazite,phosphates, and heavy minerals such as ilmenite, rutile and zircon attracting considerable international mining interests including environmental and community concerns.
