BY KNA
Kakamega County Commissioner Michael Mwangi has warned that the government will not allow increasing cases of wrangling over gold mining sites.
Speaking yesterday when he chaired the National Government County Implementation Coordination and Management Committee meeting, Mwangi directed the Ministry of Mining to streamline the operations of mining sector in the county to ensure those involved are fully registered.
The county commissioner’s remarks come in the wake of two warring groups that clashed over mining sites in Ikolomani constituency, where property of unknown value belonging to Shanta Gold Mining Company were set a blaze and several people injured.
Shanta gold mining company has been accused by locals of taking rocks believed to contain gold deposits from Ikolomani to Ramula in Siaya county, where it has a gold processing plant, claims yet to be substatiated.
Mwangi has also warned illegal miners against mining close to government infrastructure projects, including roads, saying this was a danger to road users.
He cited the Ilesi- Rosterman road in Kakamega town and the Khwisero road where miners have encroached. He said this would not be allowed to continue.
Meanwhile, construction of a Sh5.8 billion gold refinery in Kakamega, which was launched by the government in June this year, is on course.
Speaking during the meeting, county mining director Jacob Mutua said the refinery, being constructed at Lidambitsa area along the Kisumu- Kakamega highway, is at five per cent construction.
The refinery, he added, aims at providing a reliable market for thousands of artisanal miners and small-scale miners’ reliable market away from middlemen.
He said artisanal miners will get value for the gold once the factory, being constructed by the government and a private investor under the Public-Private Partnership, arrangement becomes operational by next year.
“Artisanal miners will get value addition and better prices for their gold,” he added.