TURKANA, Kenya, Nov 28 – Turkana County government has announced plans to partner with security agencies to arrest brokers in the mining sector.
Director of Mining and Energy Duncan Kimwele said the move would seal loopholes through which miners have been exploited over the years.
Kimwele warned that they will institute arrest and prosecution of unscrupulous brokers as provided in the National Mining Act 2016 and County Artisanal Mining policy of 2019.
Speaking Sunday after meeting gypsum miners at Nakepokan, the Director said it is regrettable that hard working miners only earn a meagre Sh 150 for a wheelbarrow of gypsum as the brokers gained four times.
Kimwele has since urged the miners to register their group with the County Government to enable them benefit from free training on commodity pricing and market linkages.
The chair of Turkana Association of Artisinal Miners Michael Ejikon, termed the Sh150 as exploitative and appealed to the county to tighten compliance checking against brokers.
Terry Ekal (Kalokol Ward environmental officer), James Elimar (village administrator) and Area chief Andrew Lobolya were present.
