Mining Cabinet Secretary (CS) Hassan Ali John has promised to streamline the mining sector and weed out illegal miners frustrating the industry.
Addressing the press, Joho asserted that the industry has been marred with illegalities that affect the sector which contributes adversely to the country’s revenue.
The CS has since called for the deployment of law enforcement officers to help arrest those caught mining illegally.
“95% of mining in Kenya is illegal today, we need enforcement, we need officers on the ground with vehicles to move around with ease. Tunataka askari zaidi so we clean up,” he said.
The latest comes weeks after Joho launched a crackdown on illegal mining of strategic minerals in the country.
At the time, the vocal CS declared that all activities related to the minerals including mining, trading, processing, and prospecting must only be conducted by or in partnership with the National Mining Corporation (NAMICO).
The minerals include;Copper, Coltam, Chromite, Cobalt, Graphite, Lithum, Nickel, Niobium, Tantalum, Thorium, Tsavorite, Tin Rare Earth and Uranium.
The CS additionally underscored that his ministry will diligently enforce the law to preserve the country’s mineral wealth.
“Smuggling of our minerals is an economic crime which will hurt the future generation. We will have mining officers within the border points to stop this illicit trade. We are here to clean-up the sector and create genuine investment opportunities,” he said.
