Senate Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources has called for fresh talks to resolve the controversy surrounding the proposed mining of Ksh680-billion gold by a British firm in Ikolomani, Kakamega County.

The senate committee’s intervention led by Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki comes on the back of a petition by the community and resistance to translocate 800 families to an alternative 334-acre parcel of land to pave way for mining to commence.

During the committee’s public hearing at Bushiangala Secondary School in Ikolomani Constituency on Monday, Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalawale and Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda led residents in calls for fresh and transparent talks, citing unfairness and demanding mutually beneficial agreement that protects the livelihoods and adequately compensates land owners.

Local petitioners formally objected to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and demanded that the prospecting company, Shanta Gold Kenya ensures that local land owners benefit equitably from the gold deposits.

There were unsubstantiated allegations that President William Ruto – or his allies – owns substantial interests in Shanta Gold and is using the British link as a front to cover his tracks.

“No mining activity should commence until we achieve a genuine win-win solution that protects our people while at the same time allow responsible investment. The rights, livelihoods and dignity of our people are non-negotiable,” Senator Khalwale said.

Muhanda strongly advocated for underground mining over open cast extraction to protect the residents’ ancestral land, arguing that there was no genuine public participation to allow mining to go ahead.

Speaking at the event, Principal Secretary in State Department of Mining Harry Kimtai committed that continuous public engagements will be done with the community and that no evictions will occur without following due legal process.

The principal secretary said that, according to the Mining Act 2016, all mining rights holders pay royalties to the state with the national government getting 70 per cent, 20 per cent to the respective county government and 10 per cent to the local community.

He said it is also mandatory under the law that a Community Development Agreement (CDA) will be drafted spearheaded by Shanta Gold Kenya and local landowners, which will receive a statutory 10 per cent of the royalties from the company alongside one percent gross revenue to support community development.

A representative of Shanta Gold agreed to hold further talks regarding land acquisition, environmental concerns and community livelihood.

Washington Ogutu, the Company’s Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Manager confirmed that the company will only engage in underground mining and not shaft extraction, allaying fears of many people being displaced.

“No single public institution will be affected and will only set up machinery in areas with minimal population so that we do not affect the environment,” he gave the assurance.

Ogutu said that Shanta Gold is ready to engage in fresh talks with local leaders and community in order to have a common ground for the good of all parties.

Jimmi Makotsi, who represents Shisele, Isulu and Shirumba gave a historical overview of gold mining, saying a number of companies have previously been engaged in prospecting for gold in the area. So, the change of ownership and award of licence to the British firm is still shrouded in mystery.

It was at this stage that residents questioned President Ruto’s interests in gold mining in Kakamega.

The current state of affairs has now put in jeopardy the County Assembly of Kakamega’s move two months ago that had cleared the way for Shanta Gold Kenya to proceed with underground gold mining in the area, saying that the prospecting Company had met the threshold for public participation and complied with Mining Act 2016.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By George Kaiga and Billy Nashiali