A lobby has revealed that some artisanal women miners in Kwale County are experiencing increased sexual harassment and exploitation in the mining sector.
Lobby said due to the poor market of their commodity middlemen take advantage of the situation to abuse women.
This was revealed during a three-day first-ever annual Jukwaa La Madini conference dubbed Jamvi La Madini that was held at Diani Reef Hotel in Kwale county on June 9, 2023.
Waa-Ng'ombeni Stones and Pebble Association chair lady Mwanaharusi Bakari Mwafitina said some women are forced to sleep with the buyers to have their stones or pebbles sold.
"Since brokers control the market, they sometimes sexually exploit women," she said.
Mwafitina said the brokers and middlemen often time deliberately refuse to buy from the women until they give in to their demands, most of which is sex.
She said some artisanal women miners have already adjusted to the new norm leaving those who are yet to learn the dirty game in dilemma.
Mwafitina said they discovered the vice was rampant after doing a thorough investigation.
"We used to question ourselves why some people are unable to sell their products and realised sex is involved in the business," she said.
She said out of desperation many women fall victim adding that those who refuse incur losses and the business becomes hard for them.
Mwafitina said some surrender to the exploitation because they lack information about their rights against sexual violence while others give in since they have no alternatives and they depend solely on the business to fend for their families.
She said the social vice has resulted in unfair market competition and increased violations of women's rights in the sector.
The chair lady said sometimes the brokers and middlemen fail to pay the women after taking their commodities (sand, pebbles and stones).
She said because of the women's vulnerability dishonest buyers take them in circles when it comes to payment.
"Many have had their sand or stones remained unsold for a long time, so when approached by any customer they quickly agree to the buyer's terms even if they are being exploited," she said.
She said making it worse the brokers will buy the commodity at a lower price and sell them at better prices.
According to Mwafitina, they are forced to sell a 20-litre bucket of pebbles at Sh10 yet the brokers will make thousands.
It takes 200 buckets to get seven tonnes of a lorry full of pebbles.
Kuranze artisanal miners' representative Mwakoi admitted that women face several forms of abuse in the mining sector.
He said they are violated physically and emotionally but can't echo their voices for lacking means.
Mwakoi said the women most operate in pathetic and unsafe environments hence risking their lives.
He said most companies operating in the mining sector have not prioritised their rights and safety.
"We have women who go for weeks without taking a bath because the design and structure of the mine sites don't favour women," he said.
Mwakoi also said lack of resources and equipment is also contributing to the violation of women's rights.
He called on the government and non-governmental organisations to intervene to bring sanity to the sector.
Association for Women in Energy and Extractives in Kenya officer Michelle Samba said the mining sector is highly saturated with the exploitation of women's rights.
She said since most women cannot engage in active mining they are forced to sleep with the brokers to access good markets for their minerals.
Samba, however, said they have intervened to address the issues and restore order in the mining industry.
She said in partnership with various NGOs, county and national governments they have launched awareness and empowerment programs to uplift the lives of women in the sector.
Samba said they train the women on their rights and the correct channels to seek legal help.
She said they also introduce them to good markets, and financial literacy where they are educated on savings, forming cooperatives and acquiring loans for business and socioeconomic growth.
Samba said AWEIK is also working towards ensuring the government comes up with good policies and laws that favor women in the mining sector.
