Counties

Lobby joins leaders to oppose firms' bid for prospecting licences in Isiolo

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A section of Merti in Isiolo County. A lobby group in Isiolo has joined local leaders in objecting to an application by two companies for licences to prospect minerals. FILE PHOTO | NMG

A lobby group in Isiolo has joined local leaders in objecting to an application by two companies for licences to prospect minerals on grounds that there were no public consultations.

The Friends of Isiolo Game Reserves (Figare), a local community-based organisation (CBO) that champions for natural resources, environment and land rights, has urged the Mining Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kazungu Kambi reject the applications.

The group says the community was not consulted prior the application.

The lobby’s chairman, Hussein Abduba, said an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) was not done to ascertain the likely hazard or benefit that will come with the prospecting.

“The county government of Isiolo, which is the custodian of community land, has not been consulted in this matter by the companies that are based in Malindi,” added Mr Abduba.

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No consultations

The lobby echoed sentiments by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo and County Natural Resources executive Yussuf Daud Adan who have opposed the move, saying the companies ought to have consulted the communities as per the law before applying.

Already, the county government has written to the CS requesting him not to grant the companies prospecting licences.

In a Kenya Gazette notice, City Building Limited had applied for a prospecting licence from the Ministry of Mining seeking to prospect base minerals at Bada Nashida, in Basa location, Merti Sub-County. Bin Masood Contractor Limited requested for the same in the region through a separate notice.

The notices were issued on different days in December last year where the ministry gave 21 days from the day of publication for anyone wishing to object the grant to write to them.

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Raised tension

Mr Abduba claimed that four people were injured in Bada Nashida four days ago following the fracas over the issue, saying it had already raised tension in the area.

He also alleged that one of the applicants has been spotted in one of the sites.

“We are already challenged by various resource-based conflict issues including conservancies, boundary disputes and other mega projects and the entry by the companies will only worsen the uncertain situation on the ground,” added the lobby’s chairman.

Earlier, Mr Adan said the county government had received the notice, adding that the two companies had not followed requirements stipulated in the County Government Mining Act 2016 and the Community Land Act.

Locals have raised concern that the proposed prospecting sites cover large parts of their grazing areas.