Taita Taveta mining firms face closure by the state over illegal operations

ARNOLD LINGA MASILA-KNA

The State Department for Mining has intensified its fight against illegal mining activities in Taita Taveta County.

The Director of Mines Gregory Kituku is currently leading an inspection tour to the region.

Kituku directed the Universal Exploration Limited and Apple Mining Group, should both stop their activities which he termed illegal mining operations by the two companies.

Speaking at a mining site owned by Universal Exploration Limited, Kituku revealed that the company had been engaging in illegal iron ore mining despite having its operations suspended a year ago.

“The Regional Mining Officer said he suspended these operations a year ago but recently they came and embarked on the mining of the minerals and transported the same to Nairobi and we cannot account for it,” Kituku stated.

He said the State Department for Mining is collaborating with the Regional Mining Office, county authorities, and the national administration to investigate and quantify the amount of illegally mined and sold minerals. Additionally, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Wundanyi has been roped into the investigation.

“From here I will go to the DCI Wundanyi so that I can make a statement so that he can track the directors of this Universal Exploration Limited so that they can account for the mineral that has been mined illegally. We intend to prosecute them in law because of mining and disposing the minerals illegally without a mining license,” he stated.

Kituku emphasized that mining without a valid license contravenes Section 10 of the Mining Act, with penalties outlined in Section 202. He reiterated that convicted offenders face fines of up to Sh10 million or imprisonment for up to two years.

“This is something that we are not going to allow, we will track those directors and prosecute them in a court of law so that they can account for that,” Kituku said.

The Director also visited a nearby mining site owned by Apple Mining Group, where illegal mining of mica was uncovered.

Kituku ordered the immediate closure of the site and directed that all minerals already mined not to be sold until the company fulfills the legal requirements.

“This site must remain shut until Apple Mining Group obtains the necessary mining permits. We cannot allow anyone to exploit resources illegally, disregarding the set regulations,” he declared.

Kituku issued a stern warning to all illegal miners in Taita Taveta County, particularly those operating in Kishushe stressing that mining activities in the county must be conducted within the law, requiring a valid mining license, artisanal mining license, or permit.

“In Kishushe and Taita Taveta at large we have a lot of illegal miners. We are sending a message that any mining that is going to be undertaken in this county and more so in Kishushe, it must be licensed within the law,” Kituku said.

“Failure to that, we are going to track and prosecute and take you to court and you are going to pay the necessary fine or you will be taken to jail for the term prescribed in the law,” he warned.