Residents of Soy South ward in Keiyo South subcounty have called on the government to revive the Flourspar mining company and compensate the over 1400 families who were displaced to pave way for the construction of the company.
In a report presented to Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Mr. Wisley Rotich, a taskforce on the revival of Flour spar mining company led by its chairman Mr. Joseph Kandie said the closure of the company had affected the economy of the area calling for its reopening to offer jobs to the many youths who are unemployed.
The Tambach ward MCA Mr. Simon Chepseba who was a member of the taskforce said since the company closed eight years ago, poverty levels have gone up in the area since it was a major employer offering both direct and indirect jobs.
The Soy South ward MCA Mr. Jonah Tanui expressed concern that the ministry of mining had stopped paying some youths who have been working with the police to offer protection to assets belonging to the company worth millions of shillings.
He called on the ministry to continue paying the youths saying they were complementing the security personnel’s services.
The governor said the report will be presented to the Cabinet Secretary for Mining for further action, adding that the CS will be visiting the place soon to see for himself the state of the company and issues being raised by the locals especially on compensation.
The Governor said there was a huge army of youthful population who are unemployed and implored the national government to look for an investor to revive the company and offer jobs to the youth.
He added that he will also be talking to the same ministry to see if they can also get another investor for the mining of marble in Arror ward in Marakwet West sub county.
By Alice Wanjiru
