The National Chair of the Artisan and Small Scale Miners Association of Kenya (ASMAK), Dan Odida, has called on the government to accelerate the issuance of licenses and permits to artisan and small-scale miners.
Speaking in Migori town after a meeting with mining stakeholders, Odida highlighted that the Mining Act 2016, which legalizes artisanal mining and promotes transparency through the Online Mining Cadastre portal, has not been fully implemented. Despite the Act’s provisions, many artisanal miners have yet to receive the necessary recognition and licenses to legalize their operations.
Odida acknowledged the Ministry of Mining’s efforts to organize miners into groups and cooperatives and to gazette artisan mining committees in various counties. However, he stressed that political will is essential to operationalize these committees and expedite the licensing process. Delays in the gazettement and functioning of these committees are hindering permit issuance, causing accidents and hampering the mining industry’s potential.
Recent incidents, such as the collapse of a mining site in Kanga-Rongo Sub County that resulted in two fatalities and several injuries, underscore the urgency of the issue. Odida urged the government to prioritize local miners over foreign interests in the large-scale sector and to ensure sincere public participation in policy-making.
Patrick Kanyoro, Chairperson of the Kenya Chamber of Mines, echoed Odida’s sentiments, emphasizing the mining sector’s potential to significantly boost Kenya’s GDP if properly managed. Kanyoro criticized the introduction of Movement Permits without stakeholder consultation and called for their removal to reduce the burden on miners.
The ASMAK chair concluded by urging the government to work closely with advocacy bodies like the Kenya Chamber of Mines to enhance the sector’s contribution to the economy and create more jobs and wealth for Kenyans.
