Hostile residents disrupt iron ore mining in Kishushe, Taita Taveta in cess dispute

Wanjala Mining Company has temporarily stopped ferrying iron ore from Kishushe location in Taita Taveta county after residents and leaders blocked the Kishsushe-Ndii –Voi road over the dispute on payment of cess.
Anti-riot police led by Taita Sub-County Administration Police Commander Reubin Majonii were deployed to the area to secure lives and property as the dispute over the ownership of the mine intensified.
Three people were arrested for blocking the road and were later released after members of the County Assembly (MCAs) led by the committee chairman on Natural Resources Raymond Mwangola intervened.
The MCAs accused the police of taking sides on the issues and resorting to intimidating the local community in their quest to fight for their rights.
On Saturday night, residents barricaded the road with huge logs and rocks to stop more than 20 lorries from accessing Wanjala mining area to transport iron ore to Mombasa.
Mr Majonii later addressed the drivers of the trucks and ordered them out of the area as tension ran high.