Anxiety over delayed Kitui coal project even as investor reassures locals

After the signing of coal mining contract between the Government and a Chinese investor on December 23, 2013 in Mwingi Town, it was expected that sounds of earth-movers would be heard in Mui Basin within a year, as the heavy machinery mine the mineral.

However, a year down the line, people’s expectations have grown cold, with nothing to show on the ground. “We expected by this time we would have pocketed compensation money and started new lives. We don’t know for how long we will wait,” said Mavuli Muthangya, a farmer whose land is within the coal belt. Following start of the multi-trillion shilling coal mining project, Mui residents, whose land was to be acquired for the project expected to become overnight millionaires as it has happened elsewhere with Standard Gauge Railway.