- Gold deposits valued at KSh680 billion confirmed in Kakamega County.
- Mining will require advanced machinery and expertise; artisanal mining not feasible.
- Landowners and local communities are to be protected through formal agreements.
- Government has set up a gold refinery to curb raw gold export and boost accountability.
Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has revealed that gold worth KSh680 billion has been discovered in Kakamega County, emphasising that this may only be a part of the total reserves.
Speaking on Thursday, November 13, Joho assured residents near the mining site that they would benefit from the discovery.
“The community living around the mining area should not worry about whether they will benefit. I will make sure there is a clear agreement between the investor and the local people,” Joho said.
Joho explained that the government plans to hold talks with landowners to secure fair compensation and protect property rights.
“We cannot just displace people. There will be discussions to ensure landowners are secure and get value for their land,” he added.
This comes amid concerns that residents might be left out of the profits from mining operations.
The Cabinet Secretary clarified that artisanal mining would not work for most locals due to the depth of the gold deposits, which lie 1-2 kilometres underground.
“Mining this gold requires special equipment, technical skills, and major investment. The plan Shanta Gold has brought to the ministry is worth $510 million,” he said.
This means only well-resourced companies can extract the gold efficiently.
To prevent loss of value and increase transparency, Joho revealed that the government has built a gold refinery.
“We will not export raw gold. All our gold will be processed into bullion to ensure high accountability,” he stated.
The move is expected to boost revenue, create jobs, and make the mining sector more transparent.
