Review the Mining Bill, says lobbyists

By JOACKIM BWANA

A coast based lobby group has said there is need to review the Mining Bill to promote environmental justice and corporate accountability at the Coast.

Speaking at the launch of Human Rights Agenda (Huria) project on environmental justice and corporate accountability in Mombasa, Huria Executive Director, Yusuf Mwatsefu, said existing mining policies do not safeguard health and safety of residents.

Mwatsefu said a recent qualitative air quality analysis carried out by Huria in the Coastal mining regions of Kilifi, Kwale and Taita Taveta, found that communities adjacent to the mines continued to suffer from ill health.

This is despite reasonable compliance by mining companies as regards environmental regulations to curb emission of pollutants to the environment.

Mwatsefu said it is high time mining companies complied fully with laid-down environmental regulations and standards.

He said this is only way to minimise mining’s impact on the environment, promote safety and health of communities living near mines and processing areas.

“Medical professionals have ascertained that most of the symptoms and complaints they receive from patients are as a result of pollutants attributed to mining activities in mining areas,” Mwatsefu said.

Mwatsefu said there is need to influence change from the current system that, at best, compensates communities affected by mining related damages.

He said this should be replaced to instead make local communities active participants in the process of deciding how mines are developed and who benefits from them.