By PHILIP MUASYA
KITUI; KENYA: Law Society of Kenya chairman Eric Mutua at the weekend clashed with Ministry of Energy officials in Mui, Kitui County over coal mining concession awarded to a Chinese company.
Mr Mutua, who is also the chairman of a liaison committee for blocks C and D in the coal belt, had called a public meeting at Kateiko market where he accused the ministry of underhand dealings to defraud the Mui Basin residents.
In attendance were the ministry’s officials led by principal geologist Joseph Ndolo, who has been carrying out sensitisation exercises on coal mining in the area and neighbouring districts.
Mutua (pictured) claimed the contract, which is yet to be signed between the Government and Fenxi Mining Industry Company Limited that secured the tender to mine coal in Mui, has been crafted to undercut the community.
He claimed the liaison committee, already gazetted, was left out of the negotiation. He added that the community’s interests were not adequately addressed in the contract.
“More than a year after we were gazetted, the Government has completely locked us out of the contract making negotiations. The PS communicated to us that we would not be involved, which was mischievous. We are warning the Government not to sign the contract until all the parties scrutinise its contents and agree.”
He warned that no mining will take place unless the community’s concerns and welfare are well protected in the contract. He vowed to even move to the Supreme Court to stop the process.
However, Mr Ndolo said the Government represented the community’s interests and accused Mutua of waging a personal war for selfish gains.
Ndolo rubbished Mutua’s claims that the contract does not provide for the coal processing in Mui which would deny the locals jobs, adding that a coal processing factory would be set up in the area.
“The Government’s lawyer was negotiating for the interests of the Government and Mui community. However we have so many people with vested interests,” Ndolo said.
