Mining Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi has revealed that the government is keen on promoting sustainable exploitation of minerals as a heritage for posterity and is keen on the successful formation of marketing cooperatives that would allow members to earn increased revenues from their labor. Investors must first acknowledge and formalise their relations with the Community Development Agreement Committee to avoid future wrangles and delays over remitting the one-percent monies of gross sales.
Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime supported the initiative, saying the county government is ready to partner with the State Department for Mining to allow regulated mining activities in the park, allowing for proper screening and vetting of those miners who have complied with the law.
Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, Cabinet Secretary, Salim Mvurya, has announced that the government has allocated Sh2.9 billion for disbursement as mining royalties in 2023/24. The funds will be distributed to counties rich in minerals to supplement what they receive from the exchequer as an equitable share of revenue. Taita-Taveta County is set to receive Sh55 million, with a portion going to development activities in communities in and around mining zones.
The Mining Act 2016 stipulates that royalties from mining activities will be shared in a tripartite formula, with the national government receiving 70%, the county government receiving 20%, and the community around the mining areas getting 10%. Additionally, one percent of the gross revenue from sales by an investor is supposed to be given back to the community as CSR to support development projects.
Mvurya stated that no miner would be allowed to engage in mining without a mining permit, and the government will close down operations to enforce compliance. He also warned that 1,546 licenses are set to be cancelled after owners failed to comply with regulations.
Laikipia residents are encouraged to register for affordable housing units before the completion of houses mid-next year. Residents interested in the units must enrol and contribute 10% of the total cost. The construction is about 35% complete, with groundwork completed. The project has created job opportunities for the youth and reduced the crime rate in Nanyuki. The DCC noted that about 100 youth have benefited from jobs each day from 200 units under construction in Nanyuki, and plans are underway to upscale to a total of 500. The government’s consideration of the project has allowed the residents to support their families and move forward. Alex Mutuma, a youth from Nanyuki, and Ann Wanjiru, a forelady at the construction site, expressed gratitude for the government’s consideration and the reduction in idleness among the youth following the affordable housing project.
Narok County Commissioner Isaac Masinde has announced improved security measures in the county during the Christmas festival season. Over 253 people have been arrested in the past week due to enhanced security measures. The security team has divided Narok town into five sectors, each headed by an inspector of police. People are not allowed to be outside their homes after 11 p.m. unless they are providing essential services. Bar owners, wine and spirit shops, and entertainment clubs have been asked to close their premises by 10:30 p.m. to give customers time to go home by 11 p.m.The enhanced operation will continue until mid-January to curb crime during the festival season. The commissioner also called on church leaders to liaise with the security team to provide adequate security. He also assured tourists visiting the Maasai Mara Game Reserve of enhanced security.
The government has requested small-scale tea farmers to increase fertiliser application due to subsidised prices to double production. The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) received a second consignment of 45,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser for distribution to over 650,000 smallholder tea farmers. Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mithika Linturi, said that the government aims to increase harvests and reduce the cost of living by providing fertiliser to farmers. The government is working on tea reforms, aiming to create legal policies and administrative mechanisms to support farmers. In 2024, the government plans to distribute 7 million bags of fertiliser during the long and short rainy periods. The Ministry is also evaluating tenders for other types of fertilisers for maize and potatoes, aiming for enough fertiliser for the second planting season by mid-February next year. The government is also prioritising supporting KTDA and farmers’ factories to install processing lines for producing orthodox tea, which fetches high premium prices worldwide.