The County Assembly of Kakamega has paved the way for the proposed underground mining of massive gold deposits valued at 680 billion shillings gold in Ikolomani constituency by a private Company.
The Assembly’s committee on Environment, Natural Resources, Energy Water and Climate Change arrived at decision after holding public forums to address petitions filed by two local civil society organizations and some residents on grounds of land degradation, opaque compensation framework and the planned relocation of about 800 households from proposed mining site in the Isulu-Bushiangala area in Ikolomani Sub County.
A report of the hearings that was heard at Malinya Stadium on April 23 this year said community engagement by the company, Shanta Gold Kenya on the mining project met the threshold of meaningful public participation and that the processes were advanced through proper regulatory sequence prescribed under the Mining Act, 2016.
The prospecting gold company is currently developing a resettlement plan for households to be affected which will be subjected to public scrutiny and independent validation at the appropriate stage to avoid governance and human rights concerns.
“A comprehensive resettlement action plan including fair compensation, livelihood restoration measures and accessible grievance redress mechanisms in line with both national and international standards as envisaged in the Mining Act, 2016 and its regulations be publicly disclosed to the host community prior to land acquisition or resettlement by Shanta Gold Kenya,” the report read in part.
The report notes that existing engagement structures, including consultative forums, were sufficient and have provided adequate platform for local stakeholders’ input on the project.
“The company has demonstrated willingness to engage community structures on matters affecting the proposed project. Sufficient mitigation measures on environmental risks in regards to River Yala and River Isiukhu that are situated within the project area have been outlined in the Environmental Impact and Social Assessment (EISA),” the report further indicates.
The committee observed that formalization of mining activity under a structured large-scale framework offers more reliable and regulated economic participation than artisanal mining, adding it has the potential to lift existing artisanal miners into formal employment and supply chain opportunities, including creating estimated 1,000 direct jobs for local residents
The committee, however, wants the State Department for Mining, Shanta Gold Kenya, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and the County Government of Kakamega to issue formal mining permits to artisanal and small-scale miners, an issue that has remained contentious.
“All stakeholders should be involved in decision-making, including vulnerable and marginalized groups such as women, youths and persons living with disabilities, moving forward,” the report added.
The committee‘s report is now set to be tabled in the County Assembly Plenary (the main floor of the Assembly) by the committee’s chairperson for debate and adoption or otherwise.
by George Kaiga
