Kilifi residents oppose planned mineral mining in Sabaki

Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho. [File, Standard]

Residents of Moi village in Sabaki Ward, Magarini Sub County in Kilifi County, have opposed the planned lime and titanium mining in the area.

The mining company, Gach Group chairman Abubakar Jarawa met Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro to discuss mining opportunities in Magarini Sub County.

Malindi District Cultural Association (MADCA) Secretary General Joseph Mwarandu claimed that public participation was not conducted on the planned mining activities.

Mwarandu, Taireni Association of Mijikenda, Peter Ponda and Sabaki Baharini Squatters chair, Kitsao Hosea, said the residents will move to court if the mining licences are not revoked.

Mwarandu noted that more than 3,000 residents will be affected by the project and have not been told how they will be compensated.

"There is something sinister that is taking place whereby some people purporting to be investors have been collecting signatures from residents secretly as public participation. We condemn such action because we do not want investments that we do not understand," he said.

Kitsao said that the area had been adjudicated and residents were waiting to be issued with title deeds.

He expressed fears that the land might be grabbed if the project was allowed to kick off before they get the land ownership documents.

"This might be a land-grabbing syndicate that may dispossess us of our land since it is just recently that adjudication was done. We are waiting for title deeds, and if the purported projects start before we get the land documents, then we may lose our land," he said.

The residents have called on Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho to revoke mining licences issued to Gach Group Limited until public participation is conducted.