Jubilee vows to address mining operations using devolved units

By Renson Mnyamwezi

The Jubilee Alliance leaders on Sunday promised to empower county governments to oversee mining operations.

Jubilee presidential running mate William Ruto said decentralisation of power to the devolved governments would enable Kenyans especially in areas endowed with natural resources to improve their livelihoods.

“A Jubilee government will empower county governments to issue mining consents. It will not allow few large scale miners to continue controlling and exploiting Kenyans in the multi-billion shilling mining enterprise,” said Ruto.

Addressing rallies in Mwatate, Wundanyi and Voi constituencies to drum up support for Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta, the former Cabinet minister who was accompanied by Gender Minister Naomi Shaban wondered why residents in Taita-Taveta County were living in abject poverty yet the region is endowed with enormous resources like minerals, wildlife and water bodies.

The controversial land issue took centre stage in the campaigns where the leaders said the Jubilee Government would put in place policies that will offer solutions to land matters.

Uhuru, who was expected to attend the rallies, skipped the event. On Saturday, Uhuru also skipped campaigns in the region.

“We have split ourselves into two groups because there is no time. Uhuru has gone to campaign in Kisii while we are leading campaigns here,” Ruto explained in an interview with The Standard.