Turkana communities give consent on gold exploration

The Turkana government has conducted a community consent forum to pave the way for investors seeking to explore gold deposits at Nameyana in Turkwel ward, Loima Subcounty.

County and National Environment Management Authority officials, community members and representatives of the prospective investor attended the joint forum organised by the Department of Mineral Resources.

During the forum, the county explained the potential benefits to residents and promised adherence to safety and mineral exploration standards.

Mining chief officer Triza Amoni emphasised the importance of community involvement in the decision making process.

“This meeting is about ensuring our community’s voice is heard and that we have a stake in the developments that affect our land and resources,” Amoni said.

“We want to ensure that investments in our county bring tangible benefits to our people, particularly the artisanal miners who have been working hard under difficult conditions.”

She further outlined benefits for artisanal miners, including the construction of two maternity wards at Nameyana dispensary, job opportunities for 30 youths, construction of a social hall, access to mining equipment and drilling of three boreholes.

Representative of the prospective investor, Michael Kamau, assured the community of their commitment to ethical mining practices and tangible corporate social responsibility projects that will transform the Nameyana community.

“We are not just here to extract resources; we are here to build a lasting partnership with the people of Turkana. Our goal is to create a win-win situation where the community prospers alongside the business,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the artisanal miners, John Ekeno raised various concerns, including employment opportunities for youth and the need for transparency regarding how benefits will be distributed.

He also expressed the community’s cautious optimism, saying, “We welcome the development, but it must be done in a way that respects our land and benefits everyone.”