By Renson Mnyamwezi
The Government is accusing players in the mining sector of hiding crucial data on exports and earnings.
Environment and Mineral Resources minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere has also accused some players of evading taxes due to the government.
“It could be possible that some gemstone dealers could be carrying out their work behind a veil of secrecy making it difficult to establish their actual earnings,” said the minister in an interview at Wanjala Mining Company in Wundanyi.
Kenya earned an estimated Sh22 billion from the lucrative multibillion-shilling mining industry in 2010. But a report from the Ministry published early this week discloses that this figure is a small fraction of Kenya’s full mineral wealth potential.
A Coast Province politician was quoted last year as saying that miners in the region earned a staggering Sh8.7 billion in that period, even though residents lived in abject poverty.
The Standard has reliably established that mine owners’ actively conspire not to release information on how much they take out from this region in the form of gemstones.
But Mwakwere who was touring Taita-Taveta County said that would soon change. The Mining Bill, which is already with the Cabinet, will be tabled in Parliament soon and was expected to streamline the mining industry once it becomes law.
“My ministry has already completed the Minerals Bill and Mining Policy Bill and are awaiting approval from the Cabinet.
The minister said a new mining policy will remove archaic laws, tame tax evasion, foster transparency and accountability and ensure the sector reaches its full potential and support goals of Vision 2030.
