By: John Kariuki
Principal Secretary for Mining Elijah Mwangi hosted the spouse of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya Pastor Dorcas Rigathi at Osiri-Matanda village in Nyatike Sub-County in Migori County for the official launch of Rapid Result Initiative (RRI) for issuance of mining and mineral trading licenses, mineral processing licence and Artisanal mining permits for mining marketing cooperative societies across the country.
The RRI is a coordinated exercise aimed at fast-tracking, boosting and enhancing the issuance and access of licenses for artisanal miners in cooperatives and dealers / processors of minerals across the 47 counties in Kenya.
The launch is expected to see over 20 marketing cooperatives in Migori acquire mining permits. The ultimate objective of the RRI is to eradicate the rampant incidences of illegal mining operations across the country. A license is a mandatory requirement for miners actively involved in mineral trading, processing, exploration and exploitation.
To make the process friendlier and more accommodating for all, the State Department for Mining has deployed additional officials to counties who will assist miners in the licenses’ application process.
Preceding the RRI launch at Osiri we held discussions with Migori Governor Dr. Achilo Ayacko, senior national and county government officials amongst other leaders.
To support the artisanal miners in acquiring mining zones, the ministry has started reviewing the licenses for investor sitting on vast tracts of land and who merely engage in speculative activities. Mining is a business that must pay.
Licenses issued to investors; be it for exploration, mining, processing, trading or dealing must actively correspond with that particular activity.
The era where mining investors applied for licenses with the sole intention of hoarding huge chunks of mining zones that remained unutilized is long gone. Such companies will be removed from the cadaster and the land be declared free for allocation to artisanal miners under marketing cooperatives.
During the launch, one Migori mining cooperative was issued with a DPL to legalise operating license. To support health and safety standards, the miners were also issued with safety gear including helmets, reflector jackets and safety gloves.
The event also saw the handing over of a new motor vehicle for the Regional Mining Office that will be used for offering extension services to the miners in the region including monitoring and surveillance operations.
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