By MKT Reporter
Worth Noting:
- On her part, IGRTC vice Chair Saadia Kontoma said the body recently held stakeholders’ engagements to streamline intergovernmental relations including addressing legal and policy gaps and ensure roles that will be devolved to counties that meet the legal threshold.
- She said the mining forum will help identify the gaps in the mining sector including laws, policies, and duplication roles as well as emerging issues that drive development in the sector.
- The County governments have for instance raised concerns over the current sharing formula for mining loyalties that have seen the national government pocket 70 per cent of shareholding amount with the county governments only taking a partly 20 per cent.
The Intergovernmental Relations and Technical Committee [ITGRC] has announced the formation of sector forums that will help address emerging issues of concerns between the national and county governments.
According to the body tasked with mediating and creating a harmonious relation between two levels of governments, the forums will target individual sectors and iron out seething issues for smooth service delivery.
According to the IGRTC CEO Dr. Kipkurui Chepkwony, the sector forums which bring sector players will also ensure seamless transfer of functions to devolved units as counties build their human capacity.
Speaking in Naivasha during the first forum on mining, the CEO said ITGRC has been in the forefront in creating good working relations and better development for citizens.
On her part, IGRTC vice Chair Saadia Kontoma said the body recently held stakeholders’ engagements to streamline intergovernmental relations including addressing legal and policy gaps and ensure roles that will be devolved to counties that meet the legal threshold.
She said the mining forum will help identify the gaps in the mining sector including laws, policies, and duplication roles as well as emerging issues that drive development in the sector.
The County governments have for instance raised concerns over the current sharing formula for mining loyalties that have seen the national government pocket 70 per cent of shareholding amount with the county governments only taking a partly 20 per cent.
As per the Mining Act 2016, the national government benefits with 70 percent, Counties 20 percent and the community 10 percent of loyalties gained from mining activities in the country, the formula which has now been put under scrutiny.
According to a report by Global Finance Integrity, 2023, Kenya earned sh. 300B from mining activities where Artisanal and Small Scale mining contribute a huge share with the sector employing thousands of Kenyans.
According to John Matiang’i, the Deputy Chairperson of the County Executive Committee Members Caucus on Mining sector, leaving only 20 percent to counties and 10 percent to community is negligible and should be reviewed upwards.
Matiang’i who serves as CEC for Mining in Nyamira County said the national government should plough back billions it takes from mining back to the financially starved counties to enable them drive developments and enjoy the sweet returns of mining billions going forward.
“Since the national government takes 70 percent of royalties from mining, it should invest part of the funds to affected counties to develop their health facilities, schools, water resources and hospitals from which residents will appreciate the role of mining in their areas”, said Matiang’i.
Matiang’i said the county government should also play a huge role in land use change earmarked for mining activities to control land degradation and restoration after mining activities are complete.
He added that county governments should be highly involved in mining activities emphasizing that the National Environment and Management Authority (NEMA) should sign binding agreements between counties and investors to ensure total compliance of mining regulations and procedures.
“The plan for restoration of land areas that have been used up for mining activities should be clearly stipulated to ensure they are converted back to usable spaces which have been flouted for years and left to counties instead”, said Matiang’i.
Matiang’i called for more consultations and collaborations between the two levels of governments in order to streamline and address emerging issues in the mining sector and ensure balanced benefits.
On his part, Patrick Lugame, the chair of Artisanal and Small Scale miners regretted that since the enactment of the Mining Act 2016, the government has failed to issue them with mining permits to undertake Artisanal mining which said should be expedited.
Lugame, who said the miners are committed to undertake mining that adheres to safety and environmental sustainability, also welcomed the move for members to join cooperatives to enable members to benefit more financially from their mining activities.
To date, Lugame said the government has gazetted 21 counties where mining activities are being undertaken from which he said 10 counties have been licensed for Artisanal and small scale mining activities, a sector he said supports thousands of Kenyans.
Consequently, Lugame called for more role of county governments in regulation of mining including issuing environment Impact Assessment licenses and consents to hasten approval processes.
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