President Ruto’s government on Wednesday announced the closure of 3,000 companies including illegal miners and mineral dealers after a four-year audit.
The closure of the companies was announced by Mining Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya after the lifting of the moratorium imposed in 2019 that allowed the mapping of the Country’s mineral resources.
The then President, Uhuru Kenyatta claimed that the suspension was to protect the interests of Kenyans and the investors in the mining sector.
“During the moratorium, the government undertook significant reforms that have continued to inspire the Mining Sector and make mining viable, and economical and achieve aspirations of contributing 10% to GDP by 2030,” Mvurya announced during the lifting of the ban.
Of the 3,000 operations stopped, Mvurya noted that the number would likely increase as the government had already profiled all illegal miners and operators.
“Enforcement has been beefed up through the Regional Mining Offices. The Ministry setting up an enforcement team in collaboration with other government agencies in fighting the vice,” Mvurya stated.
The move was made a day after the cabinet recommended a crackdown on illegal mining operations in Kenya.
“The (cabinet) meeting declared mineral smuggling as an economic crime and approved the establishment of a special unit dedicated to compliance and enforcement against illegal mining and mineral smuggling,” a letter from the cabinet read in part.
“The government has revoked 1546 licenses that do not meet the conditions of licensing,” the CS said.
