Miners accuse gov't of laxity in addressing issues affecting industry

The men and women in the mining sector claim that the government has been giving empty promises.

The failure of the government to implement the mining Act 2016 has also been attributed to the challenges ailing the mining sector in the country.

Kenya Chambers of Mines executive chairperson Dr. Patrick Kanyoro, who was speaking in Migori after meeting artisanal and small scale miners said the government has not shown the good will of supporting the artisanal and small scale miners.

“We are concerned that the industry is at its lowest because the voice of the miners, the voice of the players in the industry are not being heard,” said Kanyoro. 

Kanyoro said lack of proper policies guiding the mining sector in the country is among the major obstacles that need to be addressed by the Head of State.

He said a number of state organs in the mining sector are also not working in unison hence the miners are not able to get services as required.

“We have the State Department of Mining, National mining cooperation and we have the minerals right board which is all funded by taxpayers. We expect them to serve but to our disappointment, they are not. There seems to be a conflict of interest among the bodies.” 

Kenya Chambers of Mines executive council chairperson said the introduction of the movement permit is also creating more problems in the mining industry and therefore they want the government to suspend the license until stakeholders are involved.

“We are suffering as an industry because there is now a movement permit introduced .In our considered opinion, a gain that is a process taken for administrative reasons without asking the players.”

The Artisanal and Small Scale Miners Association and the Kenya Council of Miners said the mining sector has potential to support the economy of the country and also employ more youth but unfortunately   the opportunities have been missed because the government has not invested in the industry.

Artisanal and small scale miners’ association chairperson Mr.Dan Odida said issues of licensing for the artisanal and small scale miners remain a major obstacle in the realization of the returns from the mining sector in the country.

Odida said their members have been trying to access the mining Cadaster portal so that they can apply for the licenses as directed by the government but could not. 

“We have information that bigger mining companies are given priority by the government officers,” Odida noted. 

He said the challenges they have been facing indicate that the government is not committed to recognize the artisanal miners as per the Mining Act 2016.

The miners want President Ruto to have a meeting with all the miners and players in the sector so that they can deal with issues ailing the industry.