Mudavadi and Agoi poke holes in Gold exploration along Lirhanda corridor

An MP wants the government to provide details of the Lirhanda Corridor Gold Exploration in Western and parts of Nyanza regions.

Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi (ANC) wants Environment and Natural Resources Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko to also name the companies prospecting in the areas, their ownership and the process that was used to identify and award rights to prospect gold in the region.

Agoi is also concerned about the estimated amounts in value and quantity of gold deposits in the Lirhanda Corridor.

“Could the CS explain how much royalties the companies are paying to the government and explain the mining methods recommended and being used in the mining of the gold at this particular region,” questioned Agoi.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi committed the question to the Departmental Committee of Environment and Natural Resources.

According to Agoi, the Environment CS should also describe the revenue-sharing structure among the national government, county governments and the local citizens affected and whether there were any compensation to those affected by the exploration.

In 2017, Acacia Mining announced that it had discovered gold in Liranda Corridor. The then Mining Cabinet Secretary Dan Kazungu estimated the gold to be valued at Sh171 billion.