Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has suspended two mining companies in Baringo for failing to comply with the requisite regulations.
Speaking to the press outside Baringo Governor’s office in Kabarnet Town, Mvurya said that the two Chinese-owned companies namely Zhengwei and Chuanshan mining diatomite at Kapturo area in Bartabwa Ward of Baringo North and in Chemolingot area of Tiaty West Sub Counties, should stop operations immediately.
Mvurya who was in the County on a one-day fact-finding mission accompanied by his two Principal Secretaries Elijah Mwangi (Mining) and Betsy Muthoni (Blue Economy) said the Ministry will not tolerate investors who do not follow the law.
He cited the case of the Chemolingot diatomite factory which has been built near a learning institution therefore posing a health risk to learners.
‘Diatomite processing at Chemolingot stands suspended until the investor finds another suitable site and will pay hefty penalties for breaking the law,’
declared Mvurya.
He added that for the Bartabwa mining, the contractor did not follow all the compliance expectations relating to prospecting licensing therefore they do not have an option but to suspend operations until they follow the laid down procedures.
The former Kwale Governor sounded a warning to other mining companies in the County stating that they are keenly following up on other cases of illegal mining in the area with the support of the security apparatus.
He stated that Baringo has a huge potential in mining and matters blue economy which ought to be jealously guarded.
‘We have agreed with Governor Benjamin Cheboi to work seamlessly in the issuance of licensing and permits for all activities to put the lucrative sector at par with other Counties,’ said Mvurya.
Governor Cheboi and Baringo North Member of Parliament Joseph Makilap welcomed the move which he said will weed out illegal mining activities in the County.
Source: Kenya News Agency
KEETMANSHOOP: ||Kharas Regional Council chairperson, Joseph Isaacks on Friday announced the suspension of three Swapo councillors with immediate effect, for allegedly having committed various offences.
Addressing a press conference here, Isaacks said the trio was relieved of their duties after a resolution was taken during a special council meeting on Thursday.
He said the councillors’ contracts have been terminated and their benefits and remunerations were immediately suspended.
They include Oranjemund Constituency councillor, Lazarus Nangolo, Karasburg West Constituency councillor Taimi Kanyemba and !Nami#Nûs Constituency councillor, Susan Ndjaleka.
‘The council will communicate further to the councillors about the handing over of council property, we will also communicate with the electoral commission regarding the three vacant positions in the regional council,’ Isaacks said.
According to Isaacks the offences committed by councillors range from absconding from meetings with no proper and valid reason
s as per section 10 of the Regional Councils Act, sabotaging the council and refusing to fill the position of the management committee.
‘They have failed to uphold the Constitution and the law of the country, honestly, sincerely and to the best of their ability. Since they took the oath of office, the councillors failed in that. These three councillors have been holding us sabotage and at a point we need to say enough is enough,’ he stressed.
Meanwhile Swapo Party regional coordinator for ||Kharas, Matheus Mumbala on Thursday during a press conference said the three councillors were nominated by Swapo and elected by electorates adding that the chairperson has no right to terminate their employment.
‘These councillors are not working for Isaacks or for the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), they are working for the community that elected them and Government. We want to know where they got the power to terminate elected councillors, there is no one in this country that has the right to fire a member elected b
y the community. We call on the acting chief regional officer not to implement illegal things,’ stressed Mumbala.
On Friday Isaacks said the Regional Councils Act no 22 of 1992, section 10 give provision on how a councillor can vacate his or her office even though they were elected.
Other council members are Berseba Constituency councillor Jeremias Goeieman, Karasburg East Constituency councillor Anseline Beukes and Keetmanshoop Rural Constituency councillor Willem Labuschagne – all from the Landless People’s Movement.
Source: Namibia Press Agency