Government to start gold mining in Busia

SALOME ALWANDA AND RODGERS OMONDI- KNA

The Government is ready to kick off gold mining at Alupe in Busia County.

The Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Mining Harry Kimtai said the state has identified and awarded the company that will undertake the gold mining.

The mining will benefit both the community and the government through the sale of the extracted gold.

According to the structure set on the royalties to be paid, 70 per cent will be going to the national government.

The Busia County Government will get 20 per cent while the community will benefit with 10 per cent.

Speaking in Samia Sub County, the PS said that one per cent of the total gross sales will be allocated to community development and empowerment projects within the county.

He said the government will also allocate members of the public a designated place for mining. Kimtai emphasized that the government will soon address the long-standing complaint about a neighboring country mining Kenyan gold.

“I am going to send a team from the State Department of Mining to come and do an assessment of any interference of mining of our minerals by our neighbors. 

There have been many complaints from leaders and the public that our minerals are being taken away through underground mining, we want to ensure that our minerals are safe,” he said.

He urged the residents to support the government’s initiatives stating that the government has good will for its citizens. “The government has initiated many projects that aim at helping the people. This will not be possible if we don’t support it,” he said.

Busia Governor Paul Otwoma underscored the importance of working with the government citing that it’s the only way to develop the county.

“Working closely with the government guarantees us more development. We have seen what the national government is doing to us from the markets, roads and even agriculture. This cannot happen if you don’t work closely with the government,” he said.

The PS said the government has also advertised the construction of a ring road from Matayos to Sio Port.

“They have elevated our Bumbe technical to national polytechnic. They are doing a very huge project of EPZ at Nasewa, and all these are helping to change the life of our people” he said.