West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin says he is set to clamp down on gold mining within the county, noting that all non-compliant private mining licenses will be cancelled.
West Pokot gold mining shutdown, Addressing his followers during the weekend, the governor threatened legal action against all illegal miners and gold dealers, saying they were destroying the environment through their illicit trade activities.
Reasons Why the County Wishes to See the Licenses Cancelled
The first reason, as per the governor, is that of non-compliance.
Governor Kachapin wondered why the gold dealers continue trading in gold without the relevant license when other traders have licenses in the county.
He also questioned whether there was a problem with the environmental regulators like NEMA, who do not appear to be enforcing any laws amid growing environmental degradation.
Governor Kachapin made it clear that the mining activity must either be regularized or banned.
“Alarming” Revenue Statistics
One of the key factors supporting the move to shut down the mines is the economic benefit that the county stands to lose.
According to Kachapin, in the past year, West Pokot generated merely Sh1,000 in royalties from gold mining operations.
The governor called the amount alarming, considering the extent of mining on the ground.
Exploitation of Artisanal Miners
There have been allegations that the process has been geared towards the exploitation of the community, as the artisanal miners have been forced out of their trade.
According to Kachapin, some powerful people have taken advantage of the situation by obtaining mining licenses from national-level officials in Nairobi.
“Artisanal miners have been driven away, and exploitation of the area’s resources is taking place,” the governor explained while noting that some businesspersons have started staking claims to land using fake documentation.
Environmental Hazards
Environmental issues constitute another key factor driving the move to shut down mining activities.
It has been alleged that mining operations have:
- Encroached on the Nasolot Game Reserve
- Affects areas surrounding the Turkwel Hydroelectric Power Station
- Destroyed infrastructure such as schools
- Reduced grazing grounds for animals
Kachapin noted that harmful chemicals used during mining were ending up in rivers, affecting both human beings and animals.
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Community Frustration and Possibility of Legal Measures
Frustration levels are high among the residents, with the governor stating that there might be a need for the community to deal with issues by itself should there be no response from those involved.
“It shall rise to protect its natural resources” is what the governor mentioned while emphasizing that the county government will pursue court injunctions to stop the illegal mining.
Corruption as an Aspect Contributing to the Crisis
There is also corruption, which was mentioned by Kachapin as another aspect responsible for the crisis.
He stated that some leaders and security officials had allowed mining in the area without the displacement of the local community.
Such corruption has resulted in the existence of an imbalanced situation.
A Gold Rush Fueling the Problem
The problem has been worsened by a rush to mine the area, which started last year, involving both local and foreign miners.
According to Kachapin, even after engaging the Ministry of Mining and government officials on many occasions, he says no substantial progress has been made to solve the problem.
Conclusion
This decision to shut down all the gold mines in West Pokot signifies the tension between resource control, environmental protection, and equity.
The initiative by Governor Simon Kachapin demonstrates a new strategy to regulate mining activity in the region. However, this shows that there are problems associated with corruption and the regulation of mining activities in the county.
It will be interesting to see how this case plays out in court.
