The government, through the State Department of Mining, has initiated a rigorous operation aimed at curbing illegal mining activities in Kilifi County and other regions. Led by Principal Secretary for Mining, Elijah Mwangi, the crackdown focuses on halting unregulated operations that contribute to significant revenue losses.
The operation commenced with unannounced inspections in Ganze and Kilifi South sub-counties. During these visits, several illegal mining sites were shut down, with authorities seizing heavy machinery such as excavators and bulldozers. Mwangi declared that the government is fully committed to enforcing mining regulations, emphasizing the importance of legal compliance in the sector.
“We have identified illegal mining operations involving manganese, iron ore, limestone, and even copper and silver in Kilifi County. The government will not tolerate this,” Mwangi stated during a visit to the Kazungu mining site in Kilifi.
Accompanied by Kilifi County Commissioner Josphat Biwott and law enforcement officials, the PS vowed to track down the operators of the seized machinery and hold them accountable for their unlawful activities. He underscored the government’s goal of increasing the mining sector’s contribution to national revenue from its current 1% to a targeted 10%.
“Illegal operators fail to pay royalties, leading to significant revenue losses for the government, counties, and local communities. We are determined to stop this,” Mwangi asserted.
Commissioner Biwott reiterated the government’s commitment, assuring the public that law enforcement will secure the closed mining sites until all legal requirements are met. He acknowledged that the region has been losing substantial revenue due to unregulated mining activities.
“No mining will continue without proper licensing. All statutory requirements must be adhered to,” Biwott stressed.
