Senators call for publication of findings of a geophysical survey on Kenya's mineral resources

Gold miners working at gold mine site in Ramula siaya County. [Caleb Kingwara/Standard] Senators have called for the publication of the findings of the geophysical survey of Kenya's mineral resource mineral resources undertaken between 2019 and 2022. The survey was conducted with an aim of finding out which minerals are available; their commercial value and where natural minerals are deposited across the country. The aerial geophysical survey sought to establish the details of the advisory by the Mineral Rights Board and the Director of Mines on the declaration of the 14 minerals as being strategic. Migori Senator Eddy Oketch in a statement directed to the Senate Lands, Environment and Natural Resources Committee asked why the national government has failed to publish the findings of a survey done to establish where Kenya's minerals are deposited. "There is a need for the Senate to be furnished with the findings of the aerial geophysical survey of Kenya's mineral resources undertaken between 2019 and 2022 and the reasons for the failure of the government to publish the said findings," said Oketch. The Senators also want to know whether the Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary relied upon other relevant stakeholders' input in his Cabinet's request to declare the minerals as being strategic. This is after the Cabinet in 2023 decided to declare the radioactive minerals uranium, thorium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, terbium, tin, lithium, severity, Colton, chromite, niobium, rare earth, and copper as strategic minerals. "We should get details on the advisory by the Mineral Rights Board and the Director of Mines on the declaration of the 14 minerals as strategic, including an assessment of the legal standing of the advisory by the Mineral Rights Board, which did not have a chairperson appointed by the President at the time," said Oketch. The Migori Senator wants the Senate to be provided with details of the alternative livelihood options and other support mechanisms the government has provided to miners adversely affected by the declaration of the 14 minerals as strategic. Oketch wants the Senate Lands, Environment and Natural Resources to furnish the house with details regarding the formation of the Mining Police Unit to help curb illegal mining, smuggling and money laundering within the mining sector. "We want to know the legal basis and justification for the formation of the Mining Police Unit, how do the roles played by the Mining Police Unit differ from those of the inspectors of mines under the Mining Act?" asked Oketch in his statement. The Senator further wants the Mining Ministry to disclose the number of cases handled by the Unit so far, including details on the quantity of illegally mined minerals recovered and the status of prosecution of the responsible individuals. Oketch further sought to know the measures put in place to protect artisanal and small-scale miners from harassment by officers in the Mining Police Unit and what was the reporting mechanism in case of harassment. The Migori Senator argued that in October 2023, the Cabinet vacated the prohibition on mining using traditional and customary means, also known as artisanal mining, however little progress has been observed in onboarding artisanal and small-scale miners into the mainstream mining sector in Kenya. "The Ministry of Mining should explain the actions being taken by the government to address delays in processing applications for artisanal mining permits and why there has been delay in operationalization of the already gazetted 32 artisanal mining committees, which are supposed to advise on grant, renewal and revocation of artisanal mining permits in respective counties," asked Oketch. The Migori Senator sought to know the number and identities of artisanal and small-scale miners granted mining permits in each county since the Cabinet's decision to vacate the prohibitions on artisanal mining. Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma while supporting the statement said that in his County, the people who deal with artisanal mining, especially of tsavorite, are worried because if they start dealing with tsavorite, police officers might harass them, adding that the National Mining Corporation of Kenya cannot do mining in Kenya. Mwaruma said that they have always raised concerns on the rationale and justification of classifying some minerals as strategic minerals, which should only be mined by the National Mining Corporation (NAMICO) and also asked if there has been adequate stakeholder involvement in classifying these minerals. "The data that has been collected by the aerial survey on minerals in Kenya is there, and I do not know who it is helping because that information has not been published so that counties or investors who want to deal with minerals or mines, can use that information for the sake of extracting the minerals," said Mwaruma. Nominated Senator Beatrice Ogola asked why it is easy to know where the natural resources, such as wild animals and forests, are, but the Ministry of Mining does not want to make public the inventory on minerals for all Kenyans to know. Ogolla said that they would like the Ministry to also state the safety measures they are putting in place for the artisanal miners and the small-scale miners all over the mining areas. "Why do we find it easy to know where our natural resources, such as wild animals and forests, are, and does somebody not want to make public the inventory of minerals? Kenyans deserve to have this knowledge," said Ogola. Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana said that since an aerial geophysical survey was done, which identified 970 mineral occurrences in Kenya why is the Ministry having a problem with publishing this information and why would the Cabinet Secretary arrange conferences in 2024 when there are Kenyans who want to invest in that sector? "The Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy released a document saying they spent Sh7billion ($65million) to carry out aerial geophysical survey between the years 1919 and 2022," said Mungatana. Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi called on the House to look into the status of artisanal mining in the counties, adding that there are unscrupulous foreigners who have invaded the villages, especially in Western Kenya. Osotsi said we have Chinese, Indians, Nigerians and many other foreigners in the name of mining gold with many children having left school because they are busy sieving soil looking for gold with Women having left their homes searching for gold wondering what happens to this gold when they mine it. "We have been told in this House that Vihiga, Migori and Kakamega counties cannot get mineral royalties because the gold that is mined is not accounted for, the Ministry of Mining officials, police and county governments know all these companies operating, what is going on is illegal trade," said Osotsi. Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri while supporting the statement, urged the Senate Lands Committee to go deeper and reveal what the organization that has been conducting the geological survey looks at for them to term certain minerals strategic. "I have been thinking that soapstone from Kisii is strategic enough to convince the government to support that as an economic activity, it goes a long way in solving the economic needs of the locals and the country," said Okenyuri.

Senators call for publication of findings of a geophysical survey on Kenya's mineral resources

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Senators call for publication of findings of a geophysical survey on Kenya's mineral resources

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