Ruto assures investors

Government will continue to provide enabling environment, Deputy President William Ruto assures investors
Updated Saturday, August 10th 2013 at 17:01 GMT +3

Deputy President William Ruto opens water point in Kwale County. [Photo: Standard]

DPPS

KWALE;KENYA: Deputy President William Ruto has said the government is not at war with investors in the mining industry following the recent revocation of a number of mining licenses by the Cabinet secretary for Mines Najib Balala.

He reassured that the government will through the Mining Act streamline the mining industry to ensure that proceeds from mines   benefit communities, counties and the people of Kenya besides the investors. 

Addressing Kwale County leaders at the Matuga School of Government on Saturday, the Deputy President pointed that the recent revocation of the mining licenses must be seen in this context adding that Act will also address the issue of some speculators who are out to enrich themselves by selling their mining licenses from one party to the other without having done anything on the ground.

He said: “Kenyans are going to be asked for their input in this Act before it becomes operational .We want to regulate this vital industry and everyone must follow the law.”

Mr Ruto reassured investors that the government will continue to provide an enabling environment for their investments to thrive adding that those who follow the law have nothing to fear.

Once again the Deputy President lauded the local people for accepting to work with the Jubilee government despite the fact that they largely voted for the rival CORD.

Noting that the Jubilee government was committed to uniting the country following the recent divisive election, Ruto assured that development will be taken to all corners of the country regardless of religious, tribal or party affiliation.

“All elected leaders have a right to leadership and they will be accorded the opportunity to perform their duties to the best of their ability, their political parties notwithstanding,” he added.

On human wildlife conflict, Mr Ruto announced that the cabinet had approved an increased compensation to those injured by wild animals from Sh20,000 to one million shillings adding however that efforts are being made to keep the animals within the parks to lessen the conflict.

At the same time, Mr Ruto warned that poaching had been elevated to an economic crime and those found killing wild animals will now face severe penalties.

On education Mr Ruto decried the falling standards of education in Kwale County and called for increased investment in education infrastructure. He said there was need to develop local schools to be able to provide quality education to children.

He announced that the government had set aside Sh300 million for building two institutes of technology in two constituencies in the Coast region who were ready to provide 50 acres of land for the project.

Ruto also said the government had set aside funds to upgrade the Ukunda Airstrip to an airport to accommodate large aircraft ferrying tourists direct from overseas.

Local leaders who included Governor Salim Mvurya, MP for Matuga Hassan Mwanyoha, MP for Lunga Lunga Mr Mwashetani, MP for Kinango Gonzi Rai, Harrison Kombe of Magarini and County women representative Zainab Chidguga pledged to work with the jubilee government though most of them were elected on a CORD ticket.

Mr Mvurya asked the government to return all the land whose leases had expired back to the local people saying some of the leases dating back to 1913 could not possibly be valid now.

They supported the recent revocation of the mining licences by Mr Balala noting that a number of issues needed to be thrashed out in a structured manner before any mining is done in the area.

Mvurya stated that there were three issues that must be addressed before mining is allowed to commence noting the area in which the niobium was discovered was a gazette forest area, and that the local people would be affected by radiation when mining begins and finally the issue of revenue sharing had not been properly determined.

Mr Mwashetani in whose area niobium and rear minerals worth Sh51.2 trillion were reportedly discovered cautioned local people against selling their mineral rich land to speculators.

Mr Mwanyoha said the issue of the Mombasa Republican Council ( MRC) had now been dealt with effectively and it was no longer a threat in the area and appealed to the government to stop arresting alleged MRC members.