Kitui tops list of mineral-rich counties

 

Kitui is among the 15 counties targeted for a national geo-survey to verify availability and quantities of lucrative minerals. Other targeted counties include also Homabay, West Pokot, Migori among others.

Kitui County is endowed with graphite, copper, manganese and iron ore deposits among others.

Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Salim Mvurya held a consultative meeting in Nairobi with the County Governments endowed with critical mineral resources to update them on the reforms initiated by the National Government geared towards promoting transparency and inclusivity in the sector in line with Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

The CS said the Ministry had initiated the process of reforming and organizing the mining sector to ensure that they benefit all the players. Mvurya called on counties to form artisanal mining committees, formalise small scale mining, curb illegal mining activities and increase their contribution to the sector's earnings and Gross Domestic Product.

The Artisanal Mining Committee shall comprise of a representative of the Governor ,who shall be the chairperson of the committee, the representative of the Director of Mines who shall be the secretary, three persons not being public officers and elected by the association of artisanal miners in the county and a representative of the inspectorate division of the ministry.

He said the government will devolve laboratories in some counties to provide accurate and reliable data about the compositional analysis of minerals in the country.

Governor Dr Malombe in his remarks highlighted the need to streamline the small scale mining sector by addressing any grey areas in determining quantities mined, royalty sharing formula among others to boost the exercise that employs thousands of people directly.