National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula addressing congregants during a church service at Friends Church Amalemba in Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega County on Sunday//HILTON OTENYO
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has described the recently passed Mining (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as a landmark piece of legislation that could significantly increase county revenues while ensuring communities living in mining areas benefit directly from the country’s mineral wealth.
Speaking during a church service at Friends Church Amalemba in Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega County, Wetang’ula said the Bill, which was approved by the National Assembly before its three-week recess, introduces clearer guidelines on the sharing and utilisation of mineral royalties and provides a framework for faster transfer of benefits to counties and local communities.
“The mining that is happening in Kakamega makes sense to the national economy, the county economy and the people. The Mining (Amendment) Bill will ensure everyone benefits and feels empowered,” said Wetang’ula.
Wetang’ula said the legislation, which now awaits presidential assent, could strengthen counties’ revenue streams and reduce overreliance on allocations from the national government. He urged Kakamega County to position itself to take advantage of the opportunities expected to arise from the new law.
“I urge the county government to closely follow the progress of this legislation because it outlines the royalties and responsibilities that will directly benefit Kakamega County and grassroots communities. If Kakamega is the gold capital of Kenya, the county will be able to give the national government revenue. The county will no longer rely on the national government as has been the case,” he said.
Wetang’ula said that the government was keen on establishing a gold refinery in Kakamega to enable value addition at source, create jobs and stimulate local economic growth.
“We are committed to establishing modern gold refining factories in Kakamega to enable value addition, improve livelihoods and create more employment and business opportunities for our people.” he said.
He said local mineral processing would reduce dependence on exporting raw minerals, attract investment and position Kakamega as a key mineral-processing hub with far-reaching economic benefits for residents and the wider region.
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, MPs Titus Khamala (Lurambi) and Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo) attended the event.
Wetang’ula also urged the occasion to rally residents of a Western to support the broad-based government and rally behind President William Ruto’s re-election bid.
He argued that the Western region needed to rethink its political approach and embrace collaboration, adding that the region should play a central role in the county’s future leadership.
“Western region has for a while entertained opposition politics. Other regions work together but, as leaders, we attack each other. It’s time to reset, rethink our political strategy and plan,” he said.
Barasa urged youth to register as voters and participate in decision making on the leadership they want at the ballot.
“We need numbers. Our journey is 2032. Each leader has set a target and cumulatively we want to deliver four million votes to the President’s basket in 2027,” said Barasa.
Khamala urged Wetang’ula to continue building political alliances across the country saying the region should now focus on producing a president.
“We must graduate to a higher position as a region. We have held senior positions up to Vice President. We must now produce a President and we must have the right formula to produce the President,” said Khamala.
Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe credited President Ruto with reviving the sugar sector and said farmers were now receiving payments promptly after delivering cane to factories.
“We are no longer broke. When we harvest our cane and deliver it to the factory, we are paid within seven days,” said Wangwe.
