Global mining firms urged to procure goods, services locally

Nairobi; Kenya: International mining companies operating in the region have been urged to procure goods and services, including skills and technology locally. This is to enable the nascent mining sector in Kenya and East Africa to grow a pool of expertise and local content.

"We need to legislate for local content in the mining industry. At the moment, we do not have a pipeline of skills meaning that we are totally reliant on the goodwill of mining firms. We also have no mechanism for monitoring that local content is developed," said Melba Wasunna- an expert adviser on Extractives and Human Rights at Katiba Institute. Dr Wasunna who spoke at the fourth Mining Business and Investment Conference in East Africa yesterday noted that already, mining countries such as Malaysia, Nigeria and Ghana have local content law in their mining legislation.