Principal Secretary for Mining (PS) Elijah Mwangi interviewed by Daily chores Last week revealed what has been achieved in the mining sector.
This was a timely effort because it dispelled the image of a department operating in managed secrecy. However, the Socialist Party has not spoken about the full results of a mineral survey conducted a few years ago.
There is no compelling legal reason why Kenyans should not know about the mineral wealth in their country, and this includes minerals classified as strategic.
The security or strategic nature of minerals and their commercialization are defined by specific licensing regulations and protocols, which do not guarantee confidentiality. The Socialist Party explained the licensing process eliminates speculators who in the past have slowed down real progress in extractive sectors.
However, the licensing process must allow for extensive appeals procedures to deal with perceived or real injustice to applicants.
What is also impressive is the complex process that has been introduced to manage the hitherto unruly craft participants by organizing them into manageable groups to ensure order, safety, accountability and compliance.
For PS, the next area of focus should be creating basic skills in the mining sector, especially through partnering with selected universities and technical and vocational education and training institutions (TVETs) located in mineral-rich provinces.
This is in addition to seeking to establish bilateral partnerships with selected countries to improve the skills of mining regulatory institutions.
Furthermore, mining management should work with the Kenya Chamber of Mines to develop adequate professional capacity within its institutions, which is a critical factor in promoting self-regulation and providing an effective forum for investor engagement.
Mining is a major production sector and GDP multiplier that increases national wealth, strengthens the balance of payments, and is a major employer and income generator in rural areas. Mining feeds other economic sectors such as manufacturing, construction, small and medium enterprises and agriculture, if we have phosphates.
Energy minerals and biotechnology, some of which are based in Kenya, are seeing rising global demand as key drivers of the ongoing transition to renewable energy.
Accelerated investments in these minerals represent a more positive contribution to Kenya’s climate efforts than waiting for climate finance assistance that Western countries are not prepared to provide. Once complete information on all minerals is cataloged and published, the Ministry should initiate detailed global investment promotion campaigns in all available forums.
Likewise, the PS in charge of petroleum must inform the public of Kenya’s position with regard to the neglected oil extraction sector, and more specifically when and how the oil reserves beneath Turkana County will be commercialized.
It is the marketing of Uganda’s oil and natural gas in Tanzania that will mark their economic superiority over Kenya.