Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy Hassan Joho has affirmed the government’s commitment to transforming the mining sector into a safer, more profitable and community-driven enterprise.
The CS who today hosted members of West Pokot Youth Association emphasized the government’s plan of unlocking the full economic potential of the county’s mineral resources and ensuring small scale miners are protected by the current administration.
“I shared the measures the Ministry has implemented to ensure the mining sector effectively contributes to the economic transformation of not only their county but across the country,” Joho affirmed.
His remarks come amid growing concerns over fatal mining accidents in the region, including incidents of mine collapses that have claimed lives and left many families in mourning.
The CS also highlighted key initiatives aimed at supporting artisanal miners and safeguarding their welfare.
“Some of these initiatives include organizing artisanal miners into cooperatives to maximize their benefits and establishing aggregation centers to ensure these miners receive fair value for their minerals, protecting them from unscrupulous dealers,” he stated.
West Pokot has in recent years witnessed multiple mining tragedies with the recent one being the early June gold mine collapse that left four people dead and others injured at Karon village in West Pokot County.
The Ministry’s latest interventions are expected to improve safety standards and ensure that the benefits of the sector are felt more broadly across the community.
Mining Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai also attended the meeting, as the Ministry pushes for reforms designed to make mining safer, more structured, and beneficial to communities long affected by unsafe mining practices.
