The Cabinet Secretary for Minning and Blue Economy, Hassan Joho has today urged miners to involve and work with locals for the benefit of them from sector and also the Government in taxes.
Speaking in Wundayi, Taita Taveta County, Joho gave a warning to the miners that do not adhere to the mining laws and overlook their community development obligations their days are numbered.
He emphasized that those miners working in non-compliance to the rules and regulations are attracting severe consequences since they are denying the government and the communities benefits coming from the mining sector.
Joho revealed that the Minning industry has the capability of contributing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but the non-compliance of some investors in paying the required fees, has been hectic to the mining industry, which has been denying the government taxes.
“Those who work without obeying the law by not giving back to their community, their days are numbered. I want to give a warning that this is the last time that the two people are placed in the same cadre. I also don’t want to hear that a miner has started operations without getting consent from the community or land owners.” Joho stated.
Joho’s remarks came during his first official meeting, where he addressed the ongoing dispute between the Kishushe Community and Samruddha Resources Kenya Limited.
The CS concluded that his docket would work to formulate a law compelling investors to first pay the required fees and taxes, before they sell their minerals that will prevent the government from losing on revenue.