Artisanal miners from Kwale and Kilifi Counties have received appointment letters as official members of the Artisanal Miners Committees (AMCs).
Speaking during the launch of the committee at the Bandari Maritime Academy, Mombasa County, Principal Secretary (PS) for Mining, Elijah Mwangi noted that the mandate of AMCs is to assist the director of mines in the various regions to grant or revoke mining permits for artisanals in the country.
“Each County shall have an artisanal mining committee. Currently we have 28 artisanal committees that have been gazetted and today we came to launch and issue appointment letters to members of the committee from the two Coastal Counties,” said Mwangi.
The PS said the department’s expectation is that the committee will hasten the process of issuing mining permits to marketing cooperatives, who have been formalized and registered operate in the country.
He added the country has artisanal miners totaling to at least 1 million, hence the need to streamline the lucrative sector.
Additionally, the PS urged miners to visit the Ministry offices and collect their over 300 trading and dealership licenses that have not been collected.
He said the Ministry has received more than 526 applications for processing, hence miners should follow up and if rejected to reapply with all due requisite documentation and if qualified to visit the nearest regional offices to find out the status of their application.
Furthermore, the PS said the ministry has established a mineral testing laboratory at the Mombasa port in an effort to speed up testing and authentication processes.
A team from the Ministry had earlier visited Base Titanium in Kwale County to tackle post mine abuse cases organized by a committee in charge.
“The purpose of the visit was to sensitise the community around mining grounds to prepare themselves and make a memorandum that will outline the issues on how assets and land currently used by the company can be economically and socially utilized to benefit them, once they finish mining operations later this year,” he added.
Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mvita Sub-County Ronald Mwiwawi said the commissioning of the AMCs was timely given the potential the sector has to employ youth from the grassroots.
“The Ministry has embarked on a noble course that will see thousands of youths gain meaningful sources of livelihood as artisans in the lucrative mining sector,” said Mwiwawi.
By Chari Suche and Nuru Soud
