Muturi warns of secretive deals behind Embu coltan mining operations

In a post on X, the Democratic Party leader said Embu residents would resist any attempts to impose mining activities on them through 'secretive agreements' involving politically connected individuals and investors.

“The people of Embu County will not sit back and watch secretive deals that determine the fate of their land, livelihoods, and natural resources,” Muturi stated.

He argued that any proposed exploitation of coltan deposits in the county must begin with “full, open, and meaningful consultation” with local communities living in the affected areas.

Muturi referenced a gazette notice reportedly published in March by Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho regarding coltan exploration in Embu.

According to the former Speaker, the notice created uncertainty among residents, with families worried that ancestral land, farms, and community resources could be taken away without guarantees on compensation, resettlement, or environmental protection.

“Families are now living in fear that vast portions of ancestral land, farms, and community resources could be taken away without proper public participation, transparency, or guarantees for compensation and resettlement,” he said.

The former Attorney General insisted that Embu residents must have the final say over how natural resources in the county are exploited, warning against unilateral decisions by investors or government officials.

“No investor, politician, or government office has the moral authority to impose mining activities on communities without consent, accountability, and legally binding protections for affected residents,” Muturi added.

The Democratic Party leader further demanded immediate public disclosure of key details surrounding the project, including the exact locations earmarked for coltan exploration and mining, the identities of investors involved, and the framework for land acquisition and compensation.

He also called for the release of environmental and social impact assessments, as well as guarantees that local residents would benefit economically through jobs and business opportunities.

“The youth of Embu deserve jobs, local businesses deserve opportunities, and affected families deserve dignity, fairness, and protection under the law,” he stated.

Muturi accused unnamed individuals of using political connections to conceal their interests in the project, citing that the era of faceless investors exploiting communities through backdoor dealings was over.

He warned that residents were prepared to resist any attempts to dispossess them through intimidation or exploitative agreements disguised as development.

“The people of Embu County are watching. They are organized. And they will resist any attempt to dispossess them through intimidation, deception, or exploitative agreements disguised as development,” Muturi stated.