Tuesday, 17 June, 2025
Environment Committee grills PS Kimtai over illegal mining in Turkana, West Pokot and Kasipul
Continental House, Parliament Buildings, Thursday June 12, 2025
Members of the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining have raised concerns over the issuance of mining licenses by the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs.
The lawmakers questioned the Ministry’s continued approval of licenses to miners allegedly operating without completing the legally required Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), a practice they say has contributed to environmental degradation.
Appearing before the Committee, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Mining, Mr. Harry Kimtai, was put to task over reports that his office had approved some of the licenses despite stop orders issued by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) for non-compliance with environmental regulations.
In a Committee sitting led by Committee Vice Chairperson Hon. Charles Kamuren (Baringo South) to get a response from PS Kimtai who appeared following Statements requested on the floor of the House by Hon. Dr. Ariko Namoit (Turkana South), Hon. Peter Lochakapong' (Sigor) in West Pokot and the late Hon. Ong'ondo Were on concerns of illegal mining and environmental destruction in their areas of jurisdiction, the Committee dismissed PS Kimtai's response saying it did not marry the reality on ground.
PS Kimtai in his response to the Committee had pointed out that his Docket had issued licenses to only three dealers in Turkana with guidelines that the exercise is done in accordance with the law.
Hon. Ariko and his colleague and neighbour, Hon. Lochakapong' dismissed the response saying it was not addressing the issues they raised in their Statements.
Among the issues sought; they requested to know the steps taken prior to issuing licenses in Lami Nyeusi, Lorogon and Kalomwae villages on the border of Turkana South and Sigor villages, mining licences issued in the last three years, steps towards formation of artisanal mining committees, immediate and long-term actions undertaken to mitigate environmental degradation including compelling miners to refill deep tranches and addressing the drying up of local wells among other issues.
"Hon. Chair, the PS is not sincere in his response, mining is a destructive activity that needs to be mitigated to avoid public displacement, effects on Agriculture where farming can no longer be practiced along river Turkwel, talking from a point of information, look at the photos I have provided to this Committee, this mining activities have brought serous destruction around Kainuk town, the use of cyanide chemicals is having serious effects in the area", Hon. Dr. Ariko.
Additionally Dr. Ariko faulted the State Department for Mining of not organising artisan miners into cooperatives as alleged, the lack of public participation as required by law and ignoring local leaders in their activities. He further accused the police officers of protecting those miners destroying the environment.
Hon. Lochakapong' in his response asked the PS to be truthful on the activities happening on the ground. He said it was wrong for the PS through his response to the Committee to deny that there was no large scale mining in Turkana and West Pokot. His sentiments were echoed by Hon. Samuel Moroto (Kapenguria) who also appeared as a friend of the Committee and a leader from the affected areas.
Hon. Yakub Adow (Bura) asked that the PS takes seriously the issue of mining royalty benefits to the affected communities as provided in law, 10% of the proceeds to locals and 20% to County Governments in all areas where mining is happening while Hon. Charity Kathambi (Njoro) emphasized on sanity and transparency in the sector.
"If these cases in the three constituencies -Turkana South, Sigor and Kasipul - are not solved, there will be serious issues in the country. What our colleagues have presented here shows illegality and pollution through mining in the country, Billionaires visit, take our minerals and leave locals with nothing but environmental effects", said Hon. Kathambi.
Committee members Hon. Feisal Badir and Joseph Emathe called the all government institutions around the mining sector, NEMA, Security Agencies and the entire Ministry to pull together in enforcing compliance to the process.
"Chair, enforcement is critical here, this goes inline with the Mining Act 2016, the damage is done to the people of Turkana South and Sigor, I request that the PS under Section 91 and 93 on simplified licensing or artisan mining permits, we want cooperatives formed to help the community establish small scale miners, this will help mining in this area become sustainable", Hon. Emathe.
Committee Vice Chairperson Hon. Kamuren directed that the Committee visits the affected areas to ascertain the facts before convening another meeting that will bring together the PS Mining together with his Cabinet Secretary and his mining licensing officers, NEMA, PS interior and the Inspector General of Police.